The most famous martyr of the third century
Review of "Perpetua: The Woman, The Martyr" by Sarah Ruden.
Perpetua: The Woman, The Martyr
Sarah Ruden
Yale University Press
2025
Perpetua, killed in 203 A.D., was her era’s most famous martyr. Her fame came from being regularly mentioned in sermons by well-known bishop Augustine, as well as other third and fourth century preachers.
Sarah Ruden’s biography of Perpetua is part of Yale University Press’s “Ancient Lives” collection, a series exploring stories of ancient thinkers, writers and leaders. While much of this third-century Christian martyr’s story was a legend, we fortunately have her own words as a window into her world.
Ruden’s book explores not only autobiographical resources but also the broader historical context of Perpetua’s time, place and heritage. She weaves Perpetua’s original account with what we know about the lives of young married mothers and educated women in Roman Carthage, early Christian martyrdom and mysticism, gladiator entertainment and public executions.
A renowned classicist, Ruden offers an original translation of Perpetua, preserving the rough colloquial nature of her writing, the depth of her emotions and her desperate circumstances. The result is beautiful, accessible and moving.
Ruden makes sense of strange parts of Perpetua’s story: bizarre visions; religious sense of “worthiness,” a self-importance that grates against reformed notions of total depravity; and struggling to care for her nursing son while facing execution in prison. The book invites us into Perpetua’s imagination, logic and faith. We are immersed in Perpetua’s world, something one hopes for in the work of a great historian and biographer.
At times this book was more about Ruden, though. Her biting humour sometimes strays into sardonic, even cynical mockery, characterizing Perpetua as childish and naïve. I finished the book wondering whether Ruden shared my appreciation for Perpetua’s story.
Missing is a deeper exploration of what it meant to be a third century Christian. I wanted more exposition on the believers who cared for Perpetua when her family turned against her, those who visited her and her fellow imprisoned martyrs, bringing food and clothing, and caring for and adopting her son. This community took great risks, but Ruden dismisses them as profiteers whose interest in the prisoners boiled down to a desire for a good martyrdom story.
Still, Perpetua’s beautiful example remains an incredible witness of self-sacrifice for the cause of Christ. Readers will find much to inspire and challenge them in Ruden’s book.
