The irony of Emperor Septimus Severus
Rome has a rich history of Christianity which dates back to the year A.D. 193. However, the satire of Roman Emperor Septimus Severus is predominant from the start of the text. For instance, the emperor is forbidding people not to convert to Christianity or Judaism. The emperor himself is a Christian, but he does not want people to convert to Christianity. The reader expects the emperor to first denounce his Christianity status before executing people who convert to Christianity.
The satire of prophetic visions
The Old Testament in the holy books of religion is filled with prophetic visions and predictions about God’s power and expectations. Sardonically, the traditional church described in this book does not accept prophetic visions, which forces the author to be neutral in most of her accounts about her beliefs in Christianity.
The irony of the author and her father
Biblical teachings dictate that children must obey their parents without question. As a young child, the author recalls how her father forced her to renounce her Christianity beliefs. Ironically, the author disobeyed her father and went ahead to be baptized!
Bribery
The reader is surprised to learn that bribery is not a new concept because it started many centuries ago. When the author got peptized against her father's direction, she was imprisoned and put in a general cell according to the emperor’s directives. However, the author was a noblewoman because she bribed the officers and was relocated to a good room where she could nurse her young child. Therefore, bribery is not a new occurrence because it has existed over the centuries.
Christian martyrs
Christianity is an act of faith and doing good deeds to make the world a better place. Ironically, those engaged in Christian activities are mercilessly prosecuted and murdered. The author is imprisoned because she believes in Christianity. Other dedicated Christians are killed because of their firm faith. The reader finds it satirical that the authorities are dedicated to eliminating people who fear and believe in God.
