Plutarch, Life of Romulus 28,4-10: Hidden Anti-christian Controversy?

Abstract

In Vita Romuli, 28, 4-10, Plutarch argues against those who believe that the body may raise to a divine condition with the soul. Plutarch’s position is of course consistent with his Platonic belief. Nevertheless the emphasis he seems to devote to such a topic, which only in part seems to be explained by the criticism on Romulus’ deification, could be explained with a polemic reaction against some odd ideas that were circulating in those times. I suggest that these ideas could come from Christian environment, although until now we do not possess any certain evidence that Plutarch could know Christianity.