Empire Podcast – Episode 293: Ancient Gaza: The Rise of Christianity (Part 3) September 24, 2025 | Hosts: William Dalrymple & Anita Anand | Guest: Peter Sarris

Episode Overview

In this episode, William Dalrymple and Anita Anand continue their miniseries on the history of Gaza by exploring its golden age during late antiquity—an era that saw intellectual and economic flourishing, even as most of the Mediterranean grappled with decline. Joined by historian Peter Sarris, the discussion delves deep into Gaza’s transformation into a vibrant center of Christianity, monasticism, and learning amidst ongoing cultural, religious, and economic change. The episode tracks the city’s shift from pagan to Christian dominance, the roles of key religious figures, and how these shifts prefigured the coming of Islam.

1. Gaza in Late Antiquity: A Surprising Golden Age

[01:58] Anita Anand: “As our series on the history of Gaza progresses,...we’re now going to look at one of the great golden ages of the area, and that is late antiquity.”

Key Points:

• While the Western Roman Empire suffered decline, Gaza enjoyed prosperity and stability.
• The city developed as a notable intellectual and literary hub.
• Gaza retained its status as a major port and economic center, famed for frankincense, perfume, and sweet wine.

2. The Christian Transformation

A. Slow and Turbulent Shift to Christianity

[03:37] Peter Sarris: “The transition...is in itself initially quite a complicated and traumatic transition.”

• The rise of Christianity in Gaza lagged behind much of the rest of the empire.
• Early Christians in Gaza were mainly rural; urban elites persisted with pagan traditions.
• By the appointment of St. Porphyrius as bishop (c. 395), Christians were only around 1% of the population.

B. Religious and Social Makeup

[06:10] Peter Sarris: “The elite is going to be primarily Greek speaking. The lower class population...primarily speakers of Aramaic...you will also have merchants and traders from all over...as well as...a Jewish community [and] Samaritans in the countryside.”

• Gaza was ethnically and linguistically diverse, with layers of Greeks, Aramaic-speakers, Jews, and Samaritans.
• Despite waves of conquest, local continuities endured in the countryside.

3. Key Religious Figures and Religious Conflict

A. St. Porphyrius: Reluctant Revolutionary

[07:47] Peter Sarris: “Porphyry is from probably quite a posh background in Thessaloniki...he gives his money to the church, goes off to Egypt...becomes a monk...and then heads to Jerusalem.”

• Porphyrius was reluctantly appointed bishop in a context highly resistant to Christianity.
• He faced hostile city and rural pagan elites upon arrival.
• His efforts were reinforced by imperial authority—especially Empress Eudoxia—to enforce anti-pagan measures.

B. Monastic Militancy and the Destruction of Pagan Temples

[12:41] William Dalrymple: “These early Christian monks of this period are quite sort of fundo thugs, aren’t they?...They’re militants.” [13:08] Peter Sarris: “The early Church is a fundamentally...anti establishment, anti societal, anti authority movement...aggressive elements in the church at this time.”

• Early Christian monks in Gaza and elsewhere often used militant means to enforce conversion and suppress paganism.
• Porphyrius, with support of troops thanks to Empress Eudoxia, destroyed major pagan temples, including the Marneion.
• Miraculous stories (e.g., a boy speaking in tongues directing destruction of pagan temples) became part of the narrative.

C. Hilarion: Local Monastic Pioneer

[13:49] Peter Sarris: “Saint Hilarion...a local lad who again adopts Christianity...responsible for founding a very important monastery near the city.”

• Chariot racing connected with Christianity gave early public prominence to the church.
• Monasteries proliferated, blending religious, social, and economic engagement.

4. Gaza as Center of Monasticism and Learning

A. The 'Desert as City': Monastic Expansion

[17:10] Peter Sarris: “The area around Gaza will be one of the three greatest concentrations of monasticism...Around 15 substantial monasteries...by the 5th–6th centuries.”

• Gaza’s monasteries had a more public, economically engaged role than desert monastic communities elsewhere.
• Monks offered religious, social, and even practical/daily-life advice.

B. Gaza’s Intellectual Renaissance

[18:39] William Dalrymple: “In Gaza you get the impression that the monks are part of a new wave of learning...Gaza...becomes the Harvard or the Yale or the Oxford and Cambridge of the region.”

[19:09] Peter Sarris: “Gaza has clearly a very rich intellectual infrastructure...at the crossroads between Egypt, Syria, and Palestine...Alexandria is one of the great centres of learning...But in Gaza, a very different culture seems to be emerging.”

• Procopius of Gaza: Key figure blending classical and Christian erudition.
• Harmonious coexistence of classical Greek and Christian teaching—a unique feature in the empire.

C. Literary Societies and Festivals

[22:25] Peter Sarris: “We need to think of the School of Gaza more as a sort of circle and collection of scholars...like the Bloomsbury Group.”

• Rather than a formal institution, Gaza’s school was a vibrant scholarly network thriving thanks to the city’s wealth and stability.

5. Social Life, Festivals, and Economic Prosperity

A. Festivals of Christianized Pagan Origin

[25:17] Anita Anand: “I am interested in...the Dionysian Festival of Roses. So what was that about?” [26:39] William Dalrymple: “Yeah, the monks are not going to like this at all.”

• The Festival of Roses (possibly akin to the lascivious Mayuma festival) continued under Christian rule—an example of selective adaptation of older customs.
• Described as featuring literary competitions, parties, and even aquatic activities and nudity.

B. Wine Production and Monastic Commerce

[27:20] William Dalrymple: “There you have this line of...torpedo jars...full of sweet Gaza wine, which seems to be highly celebrated.” [27:48] Peter Sarris: “Gaza was famous...as producing by far the best wine in the Mediterranean...as monasteries grow...they are very involved in wine production...highly commercialized enterprises.”

• Gaza’s wine (possibly the sweet ancestor of Cypriot Commandaria) was legendary.
• Monasteries greatly contributed to—and benefited from—the commercial wine trade.

C. Wonders of Gaza: The Great Clock

[28:50] Anita Anand: “Tell me about this clock and why it was so wondrous and so famous in the ancient world.” [29:06] Peter Sarris: “We have this marvellous account of this very complicated clock...each hour being depicted by a separate labour of Hercules...a very complex...water powered [machine].”

• Literary descriptions capture lost material wonders—Gaza’s clock showcased both technical and artistic mastery.

6. Gaza as Economic Crossroads

[30:34] William Dalrymple: “What is powering the economy?” [31:03] Peter Sarris: “Gaza...still profiting from its traditional role...goods coming from the east—aromatics, spices, probably...silk—entering the Mediterranean...the wine industry is crucial...broader prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean.”

• Gaza thrived on trade between Rome and the East, with shifting routes due to Persian competition.
• New coinage, increased trade with Constantinople, and population growth contributed to economic dynamism.

7. Arabs, Byzantines, and Geopolitical Shifts

A. Frontier Diversity and ‘Arabians’

[36:28] William Dalrymple: “...as Aramaic and the elite speaking Greek. You’ve probably got quite a few people in Gaza already now speaking a form of Arabic.”

• The term ‘Arabians’ is used; emerging Arabic cultural influence is noted, with pre-Islamic forms evident.

B. Arab Integration into Imperial Dynamics

[34:03] Anita Anand: “The Persians are...completely assaulting at any opportunity.” [34:14] Peter Sarris: “The peoples of Arabia start to be drawn into the great superpower conflict...the Romans investing in local Arabian military chieftains and lords...being converted to Christianity, drawn into the imperial embrace.”

• Migrants and traders from Arabia increasingly involved in Gaza’s social and military landscape.
• Christianity and subsequently Islam spread into a region already connected by trade and power politics.

8. The End of the Golden Age: Persian Invasion & Aftermath

[38:33] Peter Sarris: “...culminates in...the early 7th century when the Persians...conquest of Syria, Palestine and Egypt...the Persians also seize...the holiest relic in Christendom, the True Cross...”

• The Persian conquest in 614 was a psychological and political blow.
• Heraclius’ tactical victories restore territories, but sow deep sectarian strife, especially against Jews.

9. The Approach of Islam

[40:24] William Dalrymple: “So then we have reports coming from southern Arabia that a new religious leader has turned up. This guy Muhammad, who’s united all the tribes, has conquered great swathes of territory and getting as close to Gaza as Aqaba...” [41:53] Anita Anand: “...the history of Gaza is about to change forever and utterly.”

• Trade links and prior migrations laid the groundwork for the region’s encounter with Islam.
• Legend holds Muhammad’s family had business links to Gaza; soon after his death, Arabs become a military force, with Gaza’s destiny fundamentally altered.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• [03:37] Peter Sarris: "The transition of Gaza into the era of the Christian Roman Empire...is itself initially quite a complicated and traumatic transition."
• [12:41] William Dalrymple: "...these early Christian monks of this period are quite sort of fundo thugs, aren’t they? In Alexandria we've seen Cyril destroying places of learning and lynching lady philosophers in the streets..."
• [19:09] Peter Sarris: "Gaza has clearly a very rich intellectual infrastructure, I think fed partly by its very close proximity to Egypt and Alexandria."
• [27:58] Peter Sarris: “A sort of Chateau Musar, given its sweet [taste]. I like to think it’s the...ancestor of the Cypriot dessert wine Commandaria...”
• [40:24] William Dalrymple: "...a local unit commander in Palestine named Sergius insults a group of Arab allies outside Gaza, refusing to pay them the money that they were owed for guarding the desert frontier...the history of Gaza is about to change forever and utterly."

Key Timestamps

• [01:58] – Gaza’s Late Antique golden age begins.
• [03:37–06:50] – Slow Christianization, elite paganism, multicultural Gaza.
• [07:47–10:37] – St. Porphyrius’s background and arrival.
• [13:08] – Monastic militancy, destruction of temples, support from Empress Eudoxia.
• [13:49] – Hilarion, sports, and monastic foundations.
• [17:10] – Gaza’s monastic boom, social involvement.
• [18:39–22:40] – Intellectual life, literary circles, Procopius.
• [25:17–27:20] – The Festival of Roses, orgiastic survivals, Christian moralizing.
• [27:20–28:08] – Gaza’s fame for wine, monastic commercialization.
• [28:50–30:17] – The wondrous mechanical clock, ekphrasis.
• [31:03–33:27] – Shifting trade, Persian competition, and Gaza’s economic role.
• [34:03–36:28] – Arabs integrated into imperial policy, linguistic shifts.
• [38:33–40:24] – Persian conquest, religious turmoil, loss and recapture of the True Cross.
• [40:24–41:53] – Islamic connections, the coming Arab conquest.

Conclusion & Next Episode

The episode concludes with Gaza on the cusp of epochal change: from a center of Christian, intellectual, and commercial life to a frontier of war and the coming of Islam. For an in-depth exploration of Gaza’s transition under early Islamic rule, listeners are invited to join the Empire Club for early access to the next episode.