Meteorites and the conversion of Constantine

I wasn't originally going to post on the recent discovery of a late antique impact crater north of Rome, but it's been presented in such sensationalistic terms ("Christianity: Came from Outer Space?"; "Space impact 'saved Christianity'") that some comment is called for. While the headlines all seem to be linking the meteorite with Constantine's vision prior to the battle of the Milvian Bridge (AD 312), the dating seems to be a bit of a stretch: as one article reports, "radiocarbon analysis of a drill core indicated that the crater was formed between 370 and 450 A.D."

Moreover, the articles all seem to be slanting the story -- one of two, it should be noted -- of the vision that led to Constantine's conversion. For Eusebius's account does not state that the vision occurred immediately before the battle, but rather at some indeterminate time previous -- likely prior to Constantine's crossing of the Alps, and almost certainly predating his march south from Verona -- while the description of the vision above the early afternoon sun does not call to mind a meteor impact nearly so much as the traditional scientific explanation of a solar halo. Or a genuine miracle, in that Eusebius recounts that the words "in hoc signo vinces" (by this sign you will conquer) also appeared in the sky . . .

Posted by David on June 25, 2003 8:59 PM