Book Description

Perpetua's Journey is a graphic history set in Roman Africa in 203 CE that examines issues of power, gender, and religion in the ancient world through the story of the Christian martyr Perpetua.The Passio Sanctarum Perpetuae et Felicitatis, better known as The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity, is the first known prose narrative written by a woman. It is also the first known piece of writing we have from a Christian woman. It is the story of a young mother, Vibia Perpetua, who livedin Roman Africa and, at the age of twenty-two, chose to proclaim publically her Christian faith. She died as a result of her actions. She did not die alone; she was part of a group of Christians martyrs, including several slaves, who were placed in prison and then sentenced to die on March 7 in theyear 203 CE. Perpetua's diary contains Perpetua's account of the events in the days leading up to her martyrdom.Perpetua's Journey is a graphic history that occupies a space between the many works designed primarily for specialists and advanced scholars who already know a great deal about Perpetua and the history of the Roman Empire, and more popular projects about the lives of saints. Perpetua's Journey isunique because it contains both a graphic portion and historical and social commentary on the Passio. Because the events recorded in the Passio take place during a time period in which we possess information about the history of the Roman Empire and everyday peoples' lives, the graphic part of thiswork strives for an authentic and realistic portrayal of events that happened to the persons in the diary.