Gripla - 20.12.2014, Síða 163

163
Gripla XXV (2014): 163–192
kIRsteN WOLF
A tReAtIse
on tHE SEVEn DEADLY SInS
In ICELAnDIC trAnSLAtIon
1. Introduction
the seven DeaDly sins, also known as the seven capital or cardinal
sins, is a classification of vices which has been used since early Christian
times. the modern concept of the seven deadly sins goes back ultimately
to the works of Evagrius Ponticus (345−99), a spiritual writer and a noted
preacher at Constantinople, who developed a system of eight logismoi (‘evil
thoughts’) as a guideline for the contemplative work of anchoritic monks
in Egypt: gastrimargia (‘gluttony’), porneia (‘prostitution’ or ‘fornication’),
philargyria (‘avarice’), hyperēphania (‘hubris’), lypē (‘sadness’ or ‘envy’), orgē
(‘wrath’), kenodoxia (‘boasting’), and akēdia (‘acedia’ or ‘dejection’).1 the
logismoi were transmitted to the west by John Cassian (ca. 365−ca. 435),
who studied monasticism in Egypt and wished to guide monastic life in
Gaul along egyptian lines. With his translation of the logismoi into Latin
as gula (‘gluttony’), fornicatio (‘fornification’ or ‘lust’), avaritia (‘avarice’
or ‘greed’), superbia (‘hubris’ or ‘pride’), tristitia (‘sorrow’, ‘despair’, or
‘despondency’), ira (‘wrath’), vanagloria (‘vainglory’), and acedia (‘sloth’)
they were first transformed into the chief vices (vitia principalia),2 which
in turn became the seven deadly sins (peccata mortalia) in the work of Pope
gregory the great (r. 590−604), a great admirer of Cassian; he revised
1 Columba Stewart oSB, “Evagrius Ponticus and the ‘Eight generic Logismoi’,” in Richard
newhauser, ed., In the Garden of Evil: The Vices and Culture in the Middle Ages, Papers in
Mediaeval Studies, vol. 18 (toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 2005), 3.
2 richard newhauser, introduction to his In the Garden of Evil, x.
Acknowledgements: I am grateful to Professor James C. McKeown, Department of
Classics, university of Wisconsin-Madison, for answering questions about some of
the Latin quotes in AM 672 4to and AM 624 4to.