Thunderbolt as a Sign of God in Orosius’ Seven Books of History against the Pagans

Tomasz Skibiński

Published:

Vol. 24 (2017)

Thunderbolt as a Sign of God in Orosius’ Seven Books of History against the Pagans

Tomasz Skibiński

Abstract

In the preface to the “Seven Books of History against the Pagans” Orosius announces that he will present different disasters which affected mankind throughout history, and mentions among them thunderbolt strikes. The article aims at analysing the descriptions of this phenomenon from the point of view of their circumstances, time, results and meanings. The study shows that although the circumstances are different, it was always God who sent down the lightning strikes and spoke through them. Orosius dedicates a lot of attention to the sacking of Rome by the Visigoths in 410 AD, which ended also with a lightning strike. The analysis of this and of other descriptions shows Orosius’ vision of history and the temporal order based on the power of Rome and faith in the true God.

Keywords:

Orosius, Sevens Books of History against the Pagans, thunderbolt, sign, portent

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Skibiński, T. (2021). Thunderbolt as a Sign of God in Orosius’ Seven Books of History against the Pagans . Saeculum Christianum. Historical Writings, 24, 15–26. Retrieved from https://czasopisma.uksw.edu.pl/index.php/sc/article/view/8497

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Tomasz Skibiński

Affiliation:

Faculty of Historical and Social Sciences Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw Poland

Bio Statement (e.g., department and rank)

fr dr Tomasz Skibiński SAC, patrologist and historian specialising in the study of late antiquity and the early Middle Ages in the Western Roman Empire and succession kingdoms in the West. The Deputy Director of the Institute of Historical Sciences at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw.