The Greco-Roman civilization did not simply die out… it was systematically exterminated! While it certainly had its faults, the civilization of the Greeks and Romans boasted great intellectual and religious diversity, usually - not always - protected by a form of freedom of speech. Christianity put a stop to all this. The upstart cult borrowed what it needed from the “pagans” and then suppressed them with a totalitarian fury. It denied intellectual freedom and forced the Greco-Roman world into a theological straight-jacket that effectively spelled the end of a culture that had existed for thousands of years.
Below is a time-line of events that literally pushed humanity into an intellectual and cultural Dark Age that would last for more than a millennium. The systematic annihilation of Hellenism in particular was deemed necessary and justifiable because it questioned the very fabric of human existence and therefore posed a real threat to the emerging New World Order.
TIMELINE
324 CE: Emperor Constantine declares Christianity as the only official religion of the Roman Empire. At Dydima, Asia Minor, he sacks the Oracle of God Apollo and tortures its priests to death. He also evicts the Gentiles from Mt. Athos and destroys all local Greek Temples.
326 CE: Emperor Constantine, following the instructions of his mother Helen, destroys the Temple of Asclepius in Aigeai of Cilicia and several temples dedicated to Aphrodite in Jerusalem, Aphaca, Mambre, Phoenice, Baalbek and elsewhere.
330 CE: Constantine steals the treasures and statues of the ancient temples in Greece to decorate Nova Roma (Constantinople), the new capital of his Empire.
335 CE: Constantine sacks countless Greco-Roman temples throughout Asia Minor and Palestine and orders the execution by crucifixion of "all magicians and soothsayers". The Neo-Platonist philosopher Sopatros is executed.
341 CE: Emperor Constas, son of Constantinus, persecutes "all the soothsayers and the Hellenists". Many Gentiles are either imprisoned or executed.
346 CE: New large-scale persecutions against the Gentiles in Constantinople. Banishment of the famous orator Libanius, who is accused of being a "magician".
353 CE: An edict of Constantius orders the death penalty for any form of worship involving sacrifices to "idols".
354 CE: A new edict of Constantius orders the closing of all Gentile temples. Some of them are profaned and turned into brothels or gambling rooms. Executions of Gentile priests. First burning of libraries in various cities of the Empire. The first lime factories are built next to closed temples. A large part of religious Greco-Roman art and architecture is turned into lime.
356 CE: A new edict of Constantius orders the destruction of the Gentile temples and the execution of all "idolaters".
357 CE: Constantius outlaws all methods of Divination, including Astrology.
359 CE: In Skythopolis, Syria, Christians organize the first death camps for the torture and execution of Gentiles arrested throughout the Empire.
361 to 363 CE: Religious tolerance and restoration of ancient cults declared in Constantinople (11th December 361) by the Emperor Flavius Claudius Julianus.
363 CE: Assassination of Emperor Julianus (26th June).
364 CE: Emperor Flavius Jovianus orders the burning of the Library of Antioch. An Imperial edict (11th September) orders the death penalty for all who worship their ancestral Gods or practice Divination ("sileat omnibus perpetuo divinandi uriositas"). Three different edicts (4th February, 9th September, 23rd December) order the confiscation of all properties of the Gentile temples and the death penalty for participation in non-Christian rituals, even private ones.
365 CE: An Imperial edict (17th November) forbids Gentile officers of the army from taking command of Christian soldiers.
370 CE: Emperor Valens orders a tremendous persecution of Gentiles throughout the Eastern Empire. In Antioch, among many others, the ex-governor Fidustius and the priests Hilarius and Patricius are executed. Tons of books are burnt in the squares of cities throughout the Eastern Empire. All friends of Julianus are persecuted (Orebasius, Sallustius, Pegasius etc.). The philosopher Simonides is burned alive and the philosopher Maximus is decapitated.
372 CE: Emperor Valens orders the governor of Asia Minor to exterminate the Gentiles and all their writings.
373 CE: New prohibition of all methods of Divination. The term "Pagan" (pagani, villagers) is introduced by the Christians to lessen the Gentiles.
375 CE: The Temple of Asclepius in Epidaurus, Greece, is closed down.
380 CE: On 27th February, Christianity becomes the exclusive religion of the Roman Empire by an edict of Emperor Flavius Theodosius, requiring that "all the various nations, which are subject to our clemency and moderation should continue in the profession of that religion, which was delivered to the Romans by the divine Apostle Peter". Non-Christians are called "loathsome, heretics, stupid and blind". In another edict Theodosius calls "insane" those that do not believe in the Christian god and outlaws all disagreements with the Church dogmas. Ambrosius, bishop of Milan, starts destroying all the Pagan temples of his area. Christian priests lead a mob against the Temple of Demeter in Eleusis and try to lynch the hierophants Nestorius and Priskus. The 95 year-old hierophant Nestorius ends the Eleusinian Mysteries and announces the predominance of “mental darkness over the human race”.
381 CE: On 2nd May, Theodosius deprives all rights of Christians that return to the Pagan religion. Throughout the Eastern Empire, Pagan temples and libraries are looted or burned down. On 21st December, Theodosius outlaws even simple visits to “the Temples of the Hellenes”. In Constantinople, the Temple of Aphrodite is turned into a brothel and the Temples of the Sun and Artemis into stables.
382 CE: The term "Hellelu-jah" (Glory to Yahweh) is incorporated into the Christian mass.
384 CE: Emperor Theodosius orders the Praetorian Prefect, Maternus Cynegius, a dedicated Christian, to cooperate with the local bishops and destroy the “Temples of the Gentiles” in Northern Greece and Asia Minor.
385 to 388 CE: Maternus Cynegius, encouraged by his fanatical wife and the bishop "Saint" Marcellus, scours the countryside with his gangs, sacking and destroying hundreds of ancient temples, shrines and altars. Amongst others they destroy the Temple of Edessa, the Cabeireion of Imbros, the Temple of Zeus in Apamea, the Temple of Apollo in Dydima and all the Temples of Palmyra. Thousands of innocent Pagans from all sides of the Empire suffer martyrdom in the notorious death camps of Skythopolis.
386 CE: Emperor Theodosius outlaws (16th June) the care of sacked pagan temples.
388 CE: Public talks on religious subjects are also outlawed by Theodosius. The old orator Libanius sends his famous Epistle "Pro Templis" to Theodosius, in the hope that the few remaining ancient temples will be respected and spared.
389 to 390 CE: All non-Christian calendars are outlawed. Hordes of fanatical hermits from the deserts flood into Middle Eastern and Egyptian cities, destroying statues, altars, libraries and Pagan temples, whilst scores of Gentiles are lynched. Theophilus, Patriarch of Alexandria, starts heavy persecutions against the Pagans, turns the Temple of Dionysos into a church, burns down the Mithraeum of the city, destroys the Temple of Zeus and burlesques the Pagan priests before they are killed by stoning. The Christian mob profanes the ancient cult images.
391 CE: On 24th February, a new edict of Theodosius prohibits not only visits to Pagan temples but also even to gaze at the vandalized statues. New heavy persecutions all over the Empire ensue. In Alexandria, Egypt, the Pagans, led by the philosopher Olympius, revolt and after some street fighting, finally lock themselves inside the fortified Temple of Serapis (Serapeion). After a violent siege, the Christians occupy the building, demolish it, burn its famous library and profane the cult images.
392 CE: On 8th November, the Emperor Theodosius outlaws all non-Christian rituals and names them "superstitions of the Gentiles" ("gentilicia superstitio"). New full scale persecutions against the Gentiles. The Mysteries of Samothrace are ended and the priests slaughtered. In Cyprus the local bishops, "Saints" Epiphanius and Tychon, destroy almost all the ancient temples on the island and exterminate thousands of Gentiles. The local Mysteries of Aphrodite are ended. Theodosius' edict declares: "the ones that won't obey pater Epiphanius have no right to keep living on the island". The Gentiles in Petra, Aeropolis, Rafia, Gaza, Baalbek and other cities of the Middle East revolt against the Emperor and the Church.
393 CE: The Pythian, Aktian and Olympic Games are outlawed as part of the “Hellenic idolatry". Christians sack the Temples of Olympia.
395 CE: Two new edicts (22nd July and 7th August) lead to new persecutions against the Gentiles. Rufinus the eunuch, Prime Minister of the Emperor Flavius Arcadius, directs the hordes of baptised Goths (led by Alaric) to the country of the Hellenes. Encouraged by Christian monks, the barbarians sack and burn many cities (Dion, Delphi, Megara, Corinth, Pheneos, Argos, Nemea, Lycosoura, Sparta, Messene, Phigaleia, Olympia and others), slaughter or enslave scores of Greeks and burn their temples. Among others, they burn the Eleusinian Sanctuary to the ground together with its priests who had taken refuge inside (including the hierophant of Mithras Hilarius).
396 CE: On 7th December, a new edict by Emperor Arcadius orders that Paganism be treated as high treason. Imprisonment of the few remaining Pagan priests and hierophants.
397 CE: "Demolish them!" Emperor Flavius Arcadius orders all the still erect Pagan temples demolished.
398 CE: The Fourth Church Council of Carthage prohibits to all, including its bishops, the study of Gentile books. Porphyrius, bishop of Gaza, demolishes almost all the Pagan temples of his city save nine.
399 CE: With a new edict (13th July) Emperor Flavius Arcadius orders all remaining temples, mainly in the countryside, to be immediately demolished: «Si qua in agris templa sunt, sine turba ac tumultu diruantur. His enim deiectis atque sublatis omnis superstitioni materia consumetur»
400 CE: Bishop Nicetas destroys the Oracle of Dionysus in Vesai and baptizes all the Gentiles of this area.
401 CE: The Christian mob of Carthage lynches Gentiles and destroys temples and "idols". In Gaza, the local bishop, "Saint" Porphyrius, sends his followers to lynch Gentiles and demolish the remaining nine still active temples of the city. The 15th Council of Chalkedon orders all Christians that still keep good relations with their Gentile relatives to be excommunicated (even after their death).
405 CE: John Chrysostom sends his hordes of gray-clad monks armed with clubs and iron bars to destroy the "idols" in all the cities of Palestine.
406 CE: John Chrysostom collects funds from rich Christian women to financially support the demolition of the Pagan temples. In Ephessus, he orders the destruction of the famous Temple of Artemis. In Salamis, Cyprus, the "Saints" Epiphanius and Eutychius continue persecutions of the Gentiles and the total destruction of their temples and sanctuaries.
407 CE: A new edict outlaws once more all non-Christian acts of worship.
408 CE: The Emperor of the Western Empire Honorius and the Emperor of the Eastern Empire Arcadius order that all sculptures of the Pagan temples be either destroyed or confiscated. Private ownership of Pagan sculpture is also outlawed. The local bishops lead new heavy persecutions against Gentiles and new book burning. Judges showing clemency for Gentiles are also persecuted.
409 CE: Once again, an edict orders Astrology and all methods of Divination to be punished by death.
415 CE: In Alexandria, Egypt, the mob, urged by the bishop Cyrillus, attacks and hacks to pieces the famous and beautiful philosopher Hypatia. Pieces of her body are paraded by the Christian mob through the streets of Alexandria, and are finally burned together with her books in a place called Cynaron. On 30th August, new persecutions start against all the Pagan priests of North Africa, who end their lives either crucified or burned alive.
416 CE: The inquisitor Hypatius, alias "The Sword of God", exterminates the last Gentiles of Bithynia. In Constantinople (7th December), all suspected non-Christian army officers, public employees and judges are dismissed.
423 CE: Emperor Theodosius II, declares (8th June) that the religion of the Gentiles is nothing more than "demon worship" and orders all those who persist in practicing it to be punished by imprisonment and tortured.
429 CE: The Temple of Athena (Parthenon) on the Acropolis of Athens is sacked. Athenian Pagans are persecuted.
435 CE: On 14th November, a new edict by Theodosius II orders the death penalty for all "heretics" and "pagans" of the Empire. Only Judaism is considered a legal non-Christian religion.
438 CE: Theodosius II issues an new edict (31st January) against the Pagans, incriminating their "idolatry" as the reason for a recent plague!
440 to 450 CE: The Christians demolish all the monuments, altars and temples of Athens, Olympia, and other Greek cities.
448 CE: Theodosius II orders all non-Christian books burned.
450 CE: All the temples of Aphrodisias (City of Aphrodite) are demolished and its libraries burned down. The city is renamed Stauroupolis (City of the Cross).
451 CE: A new edict by Theodosius II (4th November) emphasizes that "idolatry" is to be punished by death.
457 to 491 CE: Sporadic persecutions against Gentiles of the Eastern Empire. Among others, the physician Jacobus and the philosopher Gessius are executed. Severianus, Herestios, Zosimus, Isidorus and others are tortured and imprisoned. The proselytizer Conon and his followers exterminate the last Pagans of the island of Imbros, in the northeast Aegean. The last worshippers of Lavranius Zeus are exterminated in Cyprus.
482 to 488 CE: The majority of the remaining Pagans of Asia Minor are exterminated, after a desperate revolt against the Emperor and the Church.
486 CE: More "underground" Pagan priests are discovered, arrested, burlesqued, tortured and executed in Alexandria, Egypt.
515 CE: Baptism becomes obligatory, even for those that already claim to be Christian. The Emperor of Constantinople, Anastasius orders the massacre of the Gentiles in the Arabian city of Zoara and the demolition of the Temple of local god Theandrites.
528 CE: Emperor Jutprada (Justinianus) outlaws the "alternative" Olympian Games of Antioch. He also orders the execution (by fire, crucifixion, tearing to pieces by wild beasts, or cutting by iron nails) of all who practice "sorcery, divination, magic or idolatry" and prohibits all teachings by the Gentiles ("the ones suffering from the blasphemous insanity of the Hellenes").
529 CE: Emperor Justinianus outlaws the Athenian Philosophical Academy, which has its property confiscated.
532 CE: The inquisitor Ioannis Asiacus, a fanatical monk, leads a crusade against the surviving Gentiles of Asia Minor.
542 CE: Emperor Justinianus allows the inquisitor Ioannis Asiacus to convert the Gentiles of Phrygia, Caria and Lydia in Asia Minor. Within 35 years of this crusade, 99 churches and 12 monasteries are built on the sites of demolished Pagan temples.
546 CE: Hundreds of Gentiles are put to death in Constantinople by the inquisitor Ioannis Asiacus.
556 CE: Justinianus orders the notorious inquisitor Amantius to go to Antioch, to find, arrest, torture and exterminate the last remaining Gentiles of the city and to burn all the privately owned libraries.
562 CE: Mass arrests, burlesquing, tortures, imprisonments and executions of Gentiles in Athens, Antioch, Palmyra and Constantinople.
578 to 582 CE: Christians torture and crucify Gentiles all over the Eastern Empire, and exterminate the last Gentiles of Heliopolis (Baalbek).
580 CE: Christian inquisitors attack a secret Temple of Zeus in Antioch. The priest commits suicide, but the other Gentiles are arrested. All the prisoners, the Vice Governor Anatolius included, are tortured and sent to Constantinople to face trial. Sentenced to death they are thrown to the lions. The wild animals are unwilling to tear them to pieces and they end up crucified. Their corpses are dragged through the streets by the Christian mob and afterwards thrown unburied in the city dump.
583 CE: New persecutions against the Gentiles by the Emperor Mauricius.
590 CE: Throughout the Eastern Empire, Christian accusers "discover" Pagan conspiracies. A new wave of torture and executions erupts.
692 CE: The "Penthekte" Council of Constantinople prohibits the Calends, Brumalia, Anthesteria, and other Pagan / Dionysian festivals.
804 CE: The last surviving Pagans of Greece, the Greeks of Laconia, resist successfully the attempt of Tarasius, Patriarch of Constantinople, to convert them to Christianity.
950 to 988 CE: Violent conversion of the last Pagan Greeks of Laconia by the Armenian "Saint" Nikon.
Source: Vlasis Rassias: "Demolish Them..”, published in Greek, Athens 2000 (2nd Ed.), Anichti Poli Editions, ISBN 960-7748-20-4