The mystery of death has compelled attention since human history was first recorded and it has been said that the existential truth of a religious myth can be measured by power to solve the problem of death. An account of the myths which have surrounded death or an assessment of how much Christianity its faith founded on Christ's victory over death owes to these myths is clearly beyond the scope of this study. But it is well to keep in mind while examining the views of the patristic church on death and resurrection that no more in this area than in any other did the Christians of the church's first few centuries bring their message to unformed minds; there was already a rich human heritage of eschatological hopes and visions.