Abstract

As is the case with his similarly polymorphous dialogue with Socrates, Friedrich Nietzsche's careerspanningengagement with the figure of Jesus is ambivalent in the extreme. In the writings of the lastyear of his active life however, this self-professed “antichrist” is unwavering in his commendation ofthe Nazarene’s character and posture vis a vis his martyrdom. Even more remarkable is the Antichrist’sheretofore-ignored tampering with the most famous death-scene in the Western tradition. This paperexamines Nietzsche's bold manipulation of the celebrated death-scenes of Jesus and Socrates, withparticular attention paid to the possible relationship between his re-writing of the famed proceedings atCalvary, and his remarkably high regard for Jesus’ exit from the stage of life