Form, Inhalt und Funktionen der Gebete in Epiktets ‚Diatriben‘
Form, Content and the Fuctions of the Prayers in The Discourses of Epictetus

Summary/Abstract: This article presents the characteristics of the prayers in Epictetus’ writings with the help of the analysis of two examples. They will illustrate that the prayers in the Discourses are model prayers. Thus, in addition to the religious meaning of prayers as communication with the deity, they also have a didactic function. With the help of these texts the praying person practices a certain view of the world and his role in it, not through argumentation, but repetition in which he is emotionally involved. In order to complete this picture of Epictetus’ prayers examples of the ancient theory of prayer are presented in comparison: Cleanthes, as a Stoic predecessor of Epictetus, and the church father Clement of Alexandria, as an early Christian writer on whom Epictetus had influence.

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