Beyond Gender: Polycarp’s Martyrdom at the Intersection of Old Age and Masculinity: Polycarp’s Martyrdom at the Intersection of Old Age and Masculinity

Peter Ben Smit

doi:10.4324/9781032665030-7

Beyond Gender: Polycarp’s Martyrdom at the Intersection of Old Age and Masculinity: Polycarp’s Martyrdom at the Intersection of Old Age and Masculinity

Peter Ben Smit^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceeding › Chapter › Academic › peer-review

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Abstract

This chapter addresses the intersection of gender and old age by analyzing the case of the Martyrdom of Polycarp, in which the Smyrnean martyr goes to his death at an advanced age, all the while displaying a culturally credible form of masculinity. Polycarp is presented as an elite male, quite despite his age, while his virile and virtuous behavior relates to his faith in Christ and is also conceptualized as a form of imitation of the same. In some ways, Polycarp can even be seen as being depicted as going beyond gender in the sense that he appears to be participating prefiguratively in a reality in which common expectations regarding gender and appertaining do no longer apply, or, at least, are no longer dependent on one's physical condition.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Old Age in Ancient Judaism, Early Christianity, and Their Contexts
Subtitle of host publication	Senescence and its Significations
Editors	Albertine Oegema, Seth Blescoe
Place of Publication	New York
Publisher	Routledge
Chapter	18
Pages	69-86
Number of pages	18
ISBN (Electronic)	9781040409480
ISBN (Print)	9781032665047
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032665030-7
Publication status	Published - 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 selection and editorial matter, Albertina Oegema and Seth A. Bledsoe. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Polycarp
Martyrdom
Masculinity
Age
Old Age
Gender
Theology
Christianity

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10.4324/9781032665030-7

Beyond Gender_26_03_10_14_35_00Final published version, 337 KBLicence: Article 25fa Dutch Copyright Act

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Smit, P. B. (2025). Beyond Gender: Polycarp’s Martyrdom at the Intersection of Old Age and Masculinity: Polycarp’s Martyrdom at the Intersection of Old Age and Masculinity. In A. Oegema, & S. Blescoe (Eds.), Old Age in Ancient Judaism, Early Christianity, and Their Contexts: Senescence and its Significations (pp. 69-86). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032665030-7

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abstract = "This chapter addresses the intersection of gender and old age by analyzing the case of the Martyrdom of Polycarp, in which the Smyrnean martyr goes to his death at an advanced age, all the while displaying a culturally credible form of masculinity. Polycarp is presented as an elite male, quite despite his age, while his virile and virtuous behavior relates to his faith in Christ and is also conceptualized as a form of imitation of the same. In some ways, Polycarp can even be seen as being depicted as going beyond gender in the sense that he appears to be participating prefiguratively in a reality in which common expectations regarding gender and appertaining do no longer apply, or, at least, are no longer dependent on one's physical condition.",

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Smit, PB 2025, Beyond Gender: Polycarp’s Martyrdom at the Intersection of Old Age and Masculinity: Polycarp’s Martyrdom at the Intersection of Old Age and Masculinity. in A Oegema & S Blescoe (eds), Old Age in Ancient Judaism, Early Christianity, and Their Contexts: Senescence and its Significations. Routledge, New York, pp. 69-86. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032665030-7

Beyond Gender: Polycarp’s Martyrdom at the Intersection of Old Age and Masculinity: Polycarp’s Martyrdom at the Intersection of Old Age and Masculinity. / Smit, Peter Ben.
Old Age in Ancient Judaism, Early Christianity, and Their Contexts: Senescence and its Significations. ed. / Albertine Oegema; Seth Blescoe. New York: Routledge, 2025. p. 69-86.

Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceeding › Chapter › Academic › peer-review

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Smit PB. Beyond Gender: Polycarp’s Martyrdom at the Intersection of Old Age and Masculinity: Polycarp’s Martyrdom at the Intersection of Old Age and Masculinity. In Oegema A, Blescoe S, editors, Old Age in Ancient Judaism, Early Christianity, and Their Contexts: Senescence and its Significations. New York: Routledge. 2025. p. 69-86 Epub 2025 Aug 8. doi: 10.4324/9781032665030-7

Beyond Gender: Polycarp’s Martyrdom at the Intersection of Old Age and Masculinity: Polycarp’s Martyrdom at the Intersection of Old Age and Masculinity

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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