Il pascolo, la colomba e la stella: virtú dei pastori cristiani e lessico omerico nell’epigramma funerario greco dell’Asia Minore

Abstract

This paper examines some Greek funerary epigrams composed in Asia Minor for ecclesiastics in order to acknowledge their virtues. The texts show both conventional qualities and new virtues expressed through the Homeric language: the traditional epic expressions are adapted to the new Christian values, such as mildness, martyrdom, and the role of the Christian shepherd.