The use of the term δεισιδαιμονία in the opera of Flavius Josephus
Abstract
The article starts with a diachronical exposition of the meaning of the term δεισιδαιμονία and their cognates along the Greek Literature, focusing on the amplitude of his connotative spectrum. This includes all the scale from the very positive meaning of ‘piety’ or ‘reverence’ to the rather negative one of ‘superstition’. Then, each use of the noun in the Josephus’ opera is analysed, within the related textual context. The conclusion deals with the deliberated use of the term’s ambiguity that Josephus develops according to their own rhetoric and propagandist interests, with the aim of presenting conflictive aspects of the Jew religiosity to the Roman world.
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