The Ideal virgo-martyr in Prudentius’ Passio Agnetis

Abstract

In this essay the author juxtaposes two late fourth-century versions of the legend of the virgin martyr Agnes. According to the first one, presented by Damase and Ambrose, Agnes dies in the flames of fire. Prudentius introduces new details which were credited to the generation after Ambrose: the exposure in a place of ill repute, the miraculous preservation of her purity, and finally, the death by sword. Prudentius, in his poem, which is  much longer than the Ambrosian hymn, adjusted a lot of  motifs of virgin martyrdom  to a different form of literary expression. In the course of the analysis of Prudentius’ poem there can be extracted the following motifs: the saint’s name, the age,  the strength, the patience and perseverance in suffering, the refutation of pagan gods, the defence of virginity, the double crown as a prize for saving chastity and martyrdom, the mystic marriage—Agnes as a bride of Christ, the patron saint, the miracles through the intercession of the saint.

 The poet’s hymn has become paradigmatic. It provided the inspiration for his successive writers, sometimes modifying or adding to the individual threads.

So intense, throughout the history, the use of themes contained in the hymn XIV provides not only a recognition, which was given to its author, but also the wealth of spiritual experiences learned from reading the text. To some extent, the motifs of virgin martyrdom described in this essay evaluate and order the idea of the hymn, which is based on quite uncertain source material. The use of popular motifs makes Prudentius’ hymn of the model for the work of its kind in early Christian literature.