SexViolHist Bib: Cases: Biblical Cases: | Real Cases: Rape of Mary

»A historical connection between a soldier named Pantera and Jesus of Nazareth has long been hypothesized by some scholars, based on the claim of an ancient Greek philosopher named Celsus, who, according to Christian writer Origen in his Against Celsus (Ancient Greek: Κατὰ Κέλσου, romanized: Kata Kelsou; Latin: Contra Celsum), was the author of a work titled The True Word (Λόγος Ἀληθής, Logos Alēthēs).
Celsus' work was lost but, in Origen's account of it, Jesus was depicted as the result of a relationship (non-consensual or consensual) between his mother Mary and a renowned Roman figure in a time of great upheaval. He said that for this reason she was "accused of adultery but had the child by the leader named Panthera". Biblical scholar James Tabor proposed that Tiberius Pantera could have been serving in the region at the time of Jesus's conception. Christopher Zeichmann goes so far as to say: "Where precisely Pantera's unit was located during the years leading up to Jesus' conception is uncertain, but it is beyond doubt that it was not Judaea or Galilee." (Extract from: Wikipedia)

K e y w o r d s

I. Chronological Index: Ancient History: Ancient Rome

II. Geographical Index: -

III. Topical Index: Types: General: Rape | Offenders: Professions: Soldiers | Victims: Physical Status: Virginity

B i b l i o g r a p h y

I. Author Index

[Info] Pagels, Elaine. Miracles and Wonder: The Historical Mystery of Jesus. New York 2025.

II. Speaker Index

[Info] Garfinkel, Renee, int. »Miracles and Wonder: The Historical Mystery of Jesus.« Van Leer Jerusalem Series on Ideas. New Books Network 2025.