... martyrs, and the Gospel of Philip characterizes God as “a man-eater” (Scorpiace,7;theGospel of Philip). This is a standard Christian technique of reversal and re-evaluation. Things and happenings ... beasts [theriomacho]both by land and sea, both by night and day, being bound to ten leopards, Imean a band of soldiers, who, even when they receive benefits, show them-selves all the worse” (Letter ... martyrs, Revocatus and Saturius, were first cast toa leopard and then to a bear (19.3). Perpetua herself and the slave-girl Felicitasmet a wild cow. They were tossed around and maimed by the...