Spazio geografico, etnografia ed evangelizzazione nella Synagoge di Ippolito

Abstract

The article offers a contribution to the discussion raised by P. Nautin about the identity of the author of the several works transmitted under the name of ‘Hippolytus’ and argues that the Synagoge (Chronicon) of 235 A.D. is the work of Hippolytus (so-called ‘oriental’ or ‘exegete’), not simply identical with the author of the Elenchos (Refutatio omnium haeresium). The article observes that the long section on the Diamerismos-Stadiasmos (Synagoge 43-613) shares the polemical thrust against Iulius Africanus's Chronographiae as well as the theological profile of the ‘Logostheologie’ of Hippolytus. Besides this coherence of the Synagoge there are important divergences in the work. There is a “partitioning/populating” of the earth by θνη, χραι and νσοι (Synagoge 44-52.56-197) (developed in opposition to Celsus's Alethes Logos by the interpretation of Gen 10) and – apart from this – a prosopographical ethnography according to languages intended to be an interpretation of Gen 11 (Synagoge 199-201), that is completed using geoethnographic material (Synagoge 202-238) and an itinerarium of the Mediterranean Sea (Synagoge 240-613). Thus, while the Diamerismos of the author of the Elenchos (the first part, i.e. Synagoge 45-195) aims to illustrate the universal ethnographic movement starting after the Flood, the Diamerismos of Hippolytus (the second part, i.e. Synagoge 198-239) introduces an ethnic-linguistic “division/fragmentation” starting with Babel and perpetuating itself in the history. For Hippolytus, only a new human and divine initiative, of course that of the incarnate Logos and the transmission of the gospel all over the world, will overcome this “sin of division”. Hence, thanks to its combination of exegetic and literary features, Hippolytus's descriptio temporum links the universal dimension of time (the scheme of 6000 years) with the universal dimension of space. This combination has a great significance in the development of Christian chronography.