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RELIGIOUS  PROPAGANDA

Simon Magus (= Magician; compare the three Magi, that visited the baby Jesus) is an intruiging figure in the New Testament. He has a confrontation with the apostle Peter, who beats him in a batle of supernatural powers. Exit Simon the Magician.

Parallel to the Bible, there exist many books and religious pamflets (letters), that did not make it in the official Bible, composed and directed in the 4^th century ad. From this crucial period (1st century bc. – 4^{th century ad.)}

remain many alternative gospels, expression of the unknown (Enoch) and Hebrew documents (book of Jubilees). Yes, there are even qualified (Roman) historians (Josephus), reporting about local and worldhistory.

“The Levant”, as the Near-East used to be called, used to be a lush and productive area, we then call “the fertile Crescent”. An domain of agricultural abundance, reaching from Sumer (Mesopotamia), Syria, Southern Turkey, Lebanon into northern Israël. The population of the “Levant”, in those years, was divided in many ethnic-religious tribes, living partly under occupation of the Roman Empire, of which the early Christians were just a small part. At the same time the “Pax Romana” on the “Mare Nostrum” offered an excellent condition for the development of trade, exchange of ideas and travelling.

Many bible-researchers use these “forbidden books” to expand the story of (St.) Peter.

In these tales Peter, becomes the first Pope, bishop of Rome and “rock of the church”. He travelled to Rome to preach the words of Jesus. He was quite succesfull, especially with women. He converted many wives of politicians and members of the Senate to a life of chastity and the practise of celebacy. This made Peter quite unpopular with the (malr) Roman ruling-class. Peter was warned, that his life was threatened. He fled Rome, but outside the city, Peter met Jesus; who came walking towards him. He asks the Messiah, where he was going.

simon magus

Jesus answers him: “I am going to Rome, to be crucified again.” Peter understands the meaning, turns around and walks back. He is arrested and crucified up-side-down. Why?

Peter requested this penalty. He felt not worthy to die the same way the Sun of God met his death.

Peter was buried in Rome and his grave and his remains, so the stories go, can be found beneath the Vatican.

During his stay in the centre of the Roman Empire Peter had a second confrontation with Simon Magus. The Magus uses his powers of levitation and rises up into the air and flies over Nero's palace.

Again Peter uses his praying-powers and Simon crashes.

In fact Peter never was in Rome. His duty was to find and convert the “Lost 10 Tribes” and probably travelled to Turkey (Ephesos?). The story above is a “folk-tale or reli-lore” and some scolars even dispute the existence of a disciple of Jesus, called Peter.

the crucifixion of Peter

On the other hand, Simon Magus did in fact travel to Rome and had quite a career in the imperial capital. Emperor Nero invited him several times to perform his magick and wonders in his palace. Rome was a meltingpot of people, cultures, religious views and etnical sjamanism. Magick, though official a forbidden activity, is everywhere in the Bible and Jesus too, performed these “tricks” (water into wine, stones into bread) and his power to manipulate matter (making wooden planks fit with your hands, reviving the dead).

In this magical urban cosmos Simon the Magician was one of the leaders and main councellor. This function had a name. “Peter, the advisor”.

 

the fall of Simon the Magician