From Mimesis to Myth

"George Rambow fundamentally reassesses important assumptions and theses in the ongoing debate on the late antique narrative traditions about both Cyprian of Carthage and Cyprian of Antioch. A rich and solid book."--Koen De Temmerman, Professor of Classics, Ghent University "How did Christians in late antiquity understand mythical elements in their 'lives of saints'--and even in their own scriptures? Rambow opens up fresh ways to approach this question, offering a remarkably sophisticated discussion of ancient literary genres and demonstrating how Gregory of Nazianzus, among others, revised them to engage political and social issues. And despite the complexity of his discussion, he writes a lively and clear account--a rare achievement for a scholar!"--Elaine Pagels, Harrington Spear Paine Professor, Princeton University