The Martyrs of the Coliseum or Historical Records of the Great Amphitheater of Ancient Rome [Paperback]

A. J. O'Reilly (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2009

Here is told both the fascinating history of the Roman Coliseum and the lives and deaths of many famous Roman martyrs, such as St. Ignatius of Antioch, St. Prisca, Pope St. Stephen, St. Vitus and companions, St. Marinus, St. Martina, etc. Tells the heroism of the martyrs, the cruelty of the Roman mob, and the incredible miracles God worked on behalf of His saints. Exciting and vivid even today. Impr.

Product Details

• Paperback: 441 pages
• Publisher: TAN Books and Publishers; New edition edition (May 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895551926
• ISBN-13: 978-0895551924
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,384,350 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful history of early Christianity, March 15, 2009

By 

Larry H. Burdoin (Spanish Springs, Nevada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Martyrs of the Coliseum or Historical Records of the Great Amphitheater of Ancient Rome (Paperback)

I found this book to be very uplifting reading. Read this book with an open mind. It tells of tremendous faith, love and courage, as well as of extreme denial, cruelty and hatred. Unexpected conversions are also noted.

For us moderns, the reported miracles may seem hard to believe, but the author was citing (and relying on) the various Acts of the Martyrs of the early Christian Church, and on other ancient chroniclers (some that claimed to be eyewitnesses). Fr. O'Reilly was not making up fiction.

In this book, we read about some of the history of the early centuries of Christianity in the Roman Empire. This helped give me a better perspective on our current times as there are actually many social parallels between now and then. For example, the debate, or lack thereof, of the supremacy of God's laws versus manmade laws for the good of society. We see again and again in ancient, pagan Rome that the capricous whims of an Emperor (who was the law) would mean suffering and death for thousands of innocent people.

Regardless of one's religious views, one cannot but help to see the stark contrast between the gentle, peace loving Christians and the cruel, bloodthirsty pagan Romans who called for their violent deaths.

I am grateful to TAN Books and Publishers for making this reprint available to us.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A reprint from 1885 well worth a modern read, February 17, 2002

By 

Florentius (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Martyrs of the Coliseum or Historical Records of the Great Amphitheater of Ancient Rome (Paperback)

Written in the late 19th century, this book chronicles some of the martyrdom stories of saints who were in some way connected with the great Flavian Amphitheater in Rome (aka the Coliseum). Considering the popularity of the recent movie 'Gladiator', this book is certainly a worthwhile read, if only to remind the reader of the innumerable horrors that took place in that arena. The gladiatorial contests were not the only gory spectacles that took place there. Often forgotten now-a-days are the true stories of Christians fed to the lions - quite literally - and the occasional miraculous occurances that accompanied these torments. Some of the martyrdoms chronicled in this book are clearly hyperbolic, others are suspiciously repititious, and the author's flowery, 19th century prose doesn't help convince the modern reader of the truth of certain accounts. However, several of the accounts are compelling, and the author's chronological listing of the martyrdoms and the emperors involved gives the reader a nice counterpoint to secular Roman history. Overall, an interesting and fulfilling read.

5.0 out of 5 stars What a pure expressions of Faith, December 11, 2011

By 

dom. Noah Moerbeek CPMO (Riverside,CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Martyrs of the Coliseum or Historical Records of the Great Amphitheater of Ancient Rome (Paperback)

If you find yourself embarrassed by the outstanding miracles of the Saints this book is not for you. If you believe that all paths and religions lead to God than the Saints in these books call you a liar. If you do not like an extremely pro catholic bias in your books author than this book will drive you crazy with its polemic commentary.

However, if you have the faith of a child and love stories of God confounding the proud and raising the humble than you will love this book. This book illustrates that other religions worship the devil and their is no salvation except for the true God and that God shows his power when called upon by his Saints. There is even a great story about an Emperor being sentenced to Hell for his abuse of one of the Saints (consequently when I verified this Saint is recorded in the Martyrolgy the very same day it is recorded from other sources the emperor died of the plague).

The book also includes some other History of the Colosseum and many of the stories of the Martyrs did not die in the Colosseum but in other famous places near there. I will be holding onto my copy as a reference and to read again.

A few side remarks.

This books text is very rough at parts (the printing job) I don't know if I had a bum copy because I got mine very cheap and on sale. Also, there are many parts of the book in Latin for reference (I don't believe all of them a translated)