AM I MY CHILDREN’S KEEPER? EVIDENCE FOR INFANTICIDE IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE

Lev Shir COSIJNS

Abstract


Infanticide has been a subject of scholarly fascination, attracting researchers from diverse disciplines, and leading to the abundance of scholarly literature on this topic. However, historians frequently employ the term "infanticide" broadly, encompassing both the deliberate act of murdering one's own newborn child and other forms of child disposal, such as exposure. This article represents the first attempt to comprehensively analyse both textual and archaeological evidence concerning infanticide in the Roman Empire, and in doing so will concentrate on all evidence specifically referring to infanticide. By examining each source individually and collectively, it aims to determine the prevalence and continuity of infanticide and its socio-cultural implications. Contrary to prior assumptions, the analysis suggests a potential shift in attitudes towards infanticide during the late 2nd to early 3rd century CE, not solely influenced by the rise of Christianity. Additionally, this article pioneers a discussion on infanticide among Early Christians, offering fresh insights into this complex phenomenon.

Keywords


Infanticide; Roman history; Christianity; Judaism

Full Text: PDF

DOI: 10.14795/j.v11i3.1024

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