Natura, viaggio e viandanti nell’opera omiletica di Asterio di Amasea

Abstract

Although considerable scholarly activity has been produced on Asterius of Amasea in
the last century, he continues to be considered a minor author, pressed between the great
Cappadocians, his contemporaries, and the homonymous Sophist. Judged sometimes a witless
emulator, sometimes an epitomizer in perpetual debt to the previous tradition, and while
acknowledging him some literary merit, he is deemed to be unequal to his contemporaries for
lack of philosophical and theological thought. By tracing an apparently marginal theme such
as that of the journey within his works, it is instead possible to demonstrate how Asterius
was able to rework traditional themes in an original and coherent perspective. He proves to
be a refined author, acquiring nuances and literary volume and he demonstrates indeed an
autonomy of thought, departing from the examples of his time, and approaching an idea of
humanity closer to that of us contemporaries.

Key-words: Asterius of Amasea, Travel Literature, Patristic Literature, Cappadocian
Fathers.