Dioscorus

E51920

Dioscorus is traditionally depicted in Christian hagiography as the pagan father of Saint Barbara who opposed her conversion and ultimately martyred her.


Statements (38)
Predicate Object
instanceOf character in Christian hagiography
legendary figure
appearsIn Christian martyrologies
legend of Saint Barbara
medieval hagiographic collections
associatedReligionInTexts Roman paganism
associatedWith martyrdom of Saint Barbara
characterType antagonist
child Saint Barbara
depictedIn Christian iconography of Saint Barbara
medieval Christian art
geographicallyAssociatedWith Heliopolis (in some traditions)
Nicomedia (in some traditions)
knownFrom Golden Legend
traditional accounts of Saint Barbara
languageOfPrimarySources Greek
Latin
linkedToTheme conflict between paganism and Christianity
family conflict over religious conversion
moralRoleInTexts negative example of impiety and cruelty
motivatedBy desire to preserve pagan traditions
hostility to Christianity
notableFor denouncing his daughter to authorities
opposing the Christian faith of his daughter Saint Barbara
participating in the martyrdom of Saint Barbara
opposedConversionOf Saint Barbara
parentOf Saint Barbara
punishedBy God (in hagiographic tradition)
relationshipToSaintBarbara father
religion paganism
roleInHagiography persecutor of Saint Barbara
sourceType hagiographic legend rather than contemporary history
statusInScholarship possibly legendary or non-historical
timePeriod late Roman Empire (traditional setting)
traditionallyDepictedAs father who killed his daughter for converting to Christianity
strict and controlling father
wealthy pagan nobleman
ultimateFate killed after martyring Saint Barbara (in some versions, by lightning)

Referenced by (1)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Saint Barbara
father

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