# Of the asylum of Juno in Troy, which saved no one from the Greeks; and of the churches of the apostles, which protected from the barbarians all who fled to them. explained — The City of God

> Chapter companion for The City of God by Augustine of Hippo.

## What happens

Augustine contrasts the failure of Juno's temple in Troy to protect Trojan captives from the Greeks with the success of the apostolic churches in preserving the liberty and dignity of those who fled to them during the barbarian sack of Rome. He argues that the pagan gods could not save their own worshippers, while the Christian churches became places of mercy and restoration even at the hands of savage enemies.

## Themes in this chapter

### True Worship and the One God

The failure of pagan temples to protect their devotees highlights the impotence of false gods, while the Christian churches demonstrate the power of true worship.

### Peace, Justice, and the Order of Love

The churches become places of mercy and liberty, contrasting with the greed and pride of the pagan victors.

## Character check-ins

### Augustine

Author and narrator, drawing the comparison between pagan and Christian sacred spaces.

### Juno

Goddess whose temple in Troy failed to protect the captives from the Greeks.

### Jupiter

Jove, brother and husband of Juno, mentioned as the queen of all gods' consort.

## Key lines

> Troy itself, the mother of the Roman people, was not able, as I have said, to protect its own citizens in the sacred places of their gods from the fire and sword of the Greeks, though the Greeks worshipped the same gods.

Troy, the origin of Rome, could not safeguard its people in the temples of their gods from Greek attack, even though the Greeks revered the same deities.

_Augustine emphasizes the shared religion of Greeks and Trojans, yet the temples offered no protection._

> Compare now this 'asylum'—the asylum not of an ordinary god, not of one of the rank and file of gods, but of Jove's own sister and wife, the queen of all the gods—with the churches built in memory of the apostles.

Consider the difference between the sanctuary of Juno, the supreme goddess, and the churches dedicated to the apostles.

_Augustine sets up a direct contrast between the highest pagan sanctuary and Christian churches._

> Into it were collected the spoils rescued from the blazing temples and snatched from the gods, not that they might be restored to the vanquished, but divided among the victors; while into these was carried back, with the most religious observance and respect, everything which belonged to them, even though found elsewhere.

In Juno's temple, plundered goods were gathered for the victors; in the churches, stolen property was reverently returned to its owners.

_The pagan temple served greed; the Christian churches served justice and restoration._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-iv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_city_of_god_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters