Comedies were usually named by the profession or particular quality of the main character, e.g., “The Grouch” or “The Girl from Samos.” Sometimes the name referred to a plot development, “The False Accuser.” (In such cases, the audience knew what to expect; the enjoyment was …
Read MoreIn the Gospel of Mark, why does Jesus appear in Galilee, and not in some other place?
The most obvious reason is: the Sea of Galilee is in Galilee. That allows Mark to have characters who are fishermen, and to stage scenes that involve boats. Second, Galilee is near enough to Jerusalem that Jesus and his entourage can plausibly, in the world …
Read More