Daniel Crosby, Ph.D. Candidate in Greek, Latin, and Classical Studies, presented his paper “The ‘New Song’ of Eunomos: Dragons and Materiality in the Protrepticus of Clement of Alexandria to the International Conference on Patristic Studies at Oxford University. The conference was held from August 19-24 and was attended by one thousand delegates representing all facets of the field of Patristic Studies.
Dan’s talk was an interpretation of Clement of Alexandria’s unique version of the Greek myth of Eunomos through an exploration of the philosophical and rhetorical significance of serpentine imagery in the rest of his Protrepticus (2nd century C.E.):
“I argue that Clement’s novel introduction of the death of the Delphic dragon into his version of myth of Eunomos is especially important since this snake becomes a pervasive metaphor for the danger that the material world poses to souls and the rot that affects them when they cling to it. The text of the Protrepticus slithers with serpentine imagery as Clement points out how this dragon’s winding coils are wrapped around Graeco-Roman religion, philosophy, and human nature more generally.”
For Dan, Clement of Alexandria’s inclusion of the myth at the forefront of his text is intended to model the ideal reader to his audience. This exemplar is found in the mythical figure of Eunomos, who transitions from one who worships the serpent of materialistic Greek custom, to one who forsakes his past to sing with the pure song of cicadas to the Christian God.
The proceedings of the conference will be published in forthcoming volumes in the Studia Patristica studies published by Peeters.