Euphemistic and non-euphemistic content of references to death in early Christian inscriptions

Abstract

It is intended in this study to distinguish between those euphemisms which Christian inscriptions contain in common with pagan ones and those which are typically Christian. The former group comprises euphemistic expressions suggested by social convention and manners, and aimed especially at a less crude presentation of certain disagreeable notions, as well as certain euphemisms of a superstitious nature that were either mechanically adopted by the early Christians in imitation of their pagan contemporaries, or else were the relics of superstitious belief that lingered in their minds from their pagan days. The second group embraces euphemisms of a purely or predominantly Christian bent, in that they are the product of a Christian outlook or belief. As will be shown at the appropriate place, there is much more to these Christian euphemistic expressions than the mere desire to avoid using what could be regarded as undesirable terminology.