CLASSICS RESEARCH COLLOQUIUM DATE: Thursday, 18 May 2017 TIME: 14:10 - 15:45 VENUE: Committee Room, Classics Department, Room GO 12A, Ground Floor, MTB, Howard College Campus SPEAKER: Kajil Kara (Classics, University of Stellenbosch and UKZN) TOPIC: Early Christian martyr literature of the first three centuries C.E ABSTRACT: The phenomenon of martyrdom and the existence of martyrologies is a thoroughly explored area of Early Christianity. While the act of martyrdom is not strictly a Christian act, it has long been identified as one, as Early Christian history is frequently riddled by tales of martyrdom. The following study aims to contribute towards the theme of martyr stories within Early Christian literature by focusing on the re-assessment of Stephen as a “proto-martyr” as well as investigating the protreptic effect that martyr stories may have been designed to have on audiences within the Early Christian church. The methodology and theoretical framework employs various sociological and psychological identification theories as well as comprehensive hermeneutic studies of important primary Latin and Greek texts. In doing this, the study aims to demonstrate the extent to which Jesus Christ may be regarded as the “proto-martyr” as well as to find evidence to support the idea that martyr stories played an instrumental role in unifying people belonging to the Christian faith and was a source of motivation and comfort for later martyrs and other members of the Early Christian church. ALL STAFF AND GRADUATE STUDENTS ARE WELCOME! For further information please contact: Dr Elke Steinmeyer Classics Programme University of KwaZulu-Natal Durban 4041 South Africa Tel: +27 31 260 1306 Fax: +27 31 260 7286 Email: steinmeyere1@ukzn.ac.za