Devan Hite

From Lictors to Apostles: an Examination of the Synoptic Use of Roman Symbols of Power Devan Hite

This undergraduate thesis examines a handful of instances in the Synoptic gospels of the New Testament where the authors seem to utilize Roman symbols of power and authority to advance new, Christian moralities. I argue that they do this in order to contextualize Jesus in a familiar role to both Roman and Hebrew audiences, so as to provide a new and recognizable character in a story that advances very novel messages of ideal use of power, authority, kingship, and empire. In this thesis, I compare Jesus with Livy's tale of Romulus and his twelve "lictors" (a very fierce band of personal bodyguards), the apotheosis of Romulus and Jesus, concepts of the Christian "kingdom of God/Heaven" with Roman "empire," and the traditional view of the Hebrew "Messiah" with Jesus of Nazareth.