oa Het visioen van Dorotheüs (Papyrus Bodmer XXIX)

The recently published Papyrus Bodmer 29 contains a very curious, if not bizarre, Christian hexametric poem by a certain Dorotheüs, son of Quintus the poet, probably Quintus Smyrnaeus, the author of the Posthomerica. In this poem of 343 lines, probably written about 300 A.D., Dorotheus describes a visionary experience in which he enters heaven and is entrusted with the task of gatekeeper in God’ palace. Since he fulfils this task badly, he is severely punished by being whipped, and God is inclined to dismiss him. But at the intercession of Christ and Gabriel he is allowed to resume his function. He is baptized and receives a new name, Andreas. His request to become an apostle is declined. In this article the often obscure Greek text is translated with explanatory notes.