§ 6. THEODOSIUS THE GREAT AND HIS SUCCESSOES. 63
(Lat the greatness of Rome was due to idolatry, to -wliieli indeed her subjugated enemies were likewise addicted ; and con trasted the power of Christianity, which had greatly increased under persecution and had produced whole liosts of consecrated virgins and ascetics, with the weakness of heathenism, wliicl), with all its privileges, could hardly maintain the number of ita "seven vestals, and could show no works of benevolence and mercy for the oppressed. The same petition was renewed in 389 to Theodosius, but again through the influence of Ambrose rejected. The last national sanctuary of the Romans had hopelessly fallen. The triumph, which the heathen party gained under the usurper Eugenius (392-394), lasted but a couple of years ; and after his defeat by Theodosius, six hundred of the most distinguished patrician families, the Annii, Probi, Anicii, Olybii, Paulini, Bassi, Gracchi, &c., are said by Prudentius to have gone over at once to the Christian religion.
§ 6. Theodosius the Great and his Successors, a.d. 392-550. J. IT. Stuffken: Diss, de Theod. M. in rem. christ. mentis. Leyden, 1828. M. FLficniER: Histoire de Theodose le Grand. Par. 1880.
The final suppression of heathenism is usually, though not quite justly, ascribed to the emperor Theodosius I., who, on this account, as well as for his victories over the Goths, his wise legislation, and other services to the empire, bears the distinction of the Great, and deserves, for his personal virtues, to be counted among the best emperors of Pome.' A native of Spain, son of a very worthy general of the same name, he was called by Gratian to be co-emperor in the East in a time of great danger from the threatening barbarians (379), and after the death of Valentinian, he rose to the head of the empire (392-395). He labored for the unity of the state and the suj^remacy of the Catholic religion. He was a decided adherent of the JSTicene ortho doxy, procured it the victory at the second ecumenical council (381), gave it all the privileges of the state religion, and issued a series of rigid laws against all heretics and schismatics. In his treatment of heathenism, for a time he only enforced the
* Gibbon gives a very favorable estimate of his character, and justly charges the heathen Zosimus with gross prejudice against Theodosius. Schlosser and Milmar also extol him.
64 THIRE PERIOD. A.D. 311-590.
existing proliibition of sricrifice for purposes of magic and divination (385), but gradually extended it to the whole sacrificial ■worship. In the year 391 he prohibited, under heavy fine, the visiting of a heathen temple for a religious pur])ose ; in the tbl lowing year, even the private performance of libations and other l)agan rites. The practice of idolatry was therefore henceforth a political offence, as Constantins had already, though prematurely, declared it to be, and was subjected to the severest penalties.'
Yet Theodosius by no means pressed the execution of these laws in places where the heathen party retained considerable strength ; he did not exclude heathens from public office, and allowed them at least full liberty of thought and speech. His countryman, the Christian poet Prudentius, states with approbation, that in the distribution of the secular offices, he looked not at religion, but at merit and talent, and raised the heathen Symmachus to the dignity of consul.'^ Tlie emperor likewise appointed the heathen rhetorician, Themistius, prefect of Conetantinople, and even intrusted him with the education of his 8on Arcadius. He acknowledged personal friendship toward Libanius, who addressed to him his celebrated plea for the temples in 384 or 390 ; though it is doubtful whether he actually delivered it in the imperial presence. In short this emperor stood in such favor with the heathens, that after his death he was enrolled by the senate, according to ancient custom, among the gods.'
Theodosius issued no law for the destruction of temples.
• Cod. Theo3. xvi. 10, 12.
• Prudent, in Symmachum (written A.D. 403), 1. i. v. 61*7 sqq.: " Dcnique pro meritis terrestribus aequa rcpendcns
Munera sacricolis auramos impcrtit honores
Dux bonus, ct ccrtarc sinit cum laudc suoium,
Nee pago implicitos [i. e. paganos, heathon] per dcbita culmina mundi
Ire vJroa prohibet: quoniam coelestia nunquara
Terreiis solitum per iter gradientibus obstant.
Ipse mivgistratum tibi consulis, ipse tribunal
Coutulit."
• Claudian, \'ho at this period roused pagan poetry from its long sleep and de rived his inspiration from the glory of Theodosius and liis family, represents hii death aa an asceus.on to the gods. Dc tertio consulatu Ilonorii, v. 1G2 sqq.