A collection of the archive

Martyrs under Marcus Aurelius, AD 161–180

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Justin at Rome, the slave Blandina and the ninety-year-old bishop Pothinus at Lyon, and the twelve of Scillium — the deaths under the philosopher-emperor.

32 figures, AD 165 to 180

The irony the sources never comment on: the emperor who wrote the Meditations presided over the century’s worst outbreak of mob violence against Christians. There was no edict. The persecution at Lyon in 177 began as a riot, and the letter the survivors sent to the churches of Asia is one of the most detailed accounts of anything in the second century.

Dated by year of death between 161 and 180, which includes the co-reign with Lucius Verus.

Who were the martyrs under Marcus Aurelius?

  1. 1 Charito d. c. 165 Martyr · Companion of Justin
  2. 2 Chariton d. c. 165 Martyr · Companion of Justin
  3. 3 Euelpistus d. c. 165 Martyr · Imperial slave · Companion of Justin
  4. 4 Hierax d. c. 165 Martyr · Companion of Justin
  5. 5 Justin Martyr c. 100 – 165 Philosopher · Apologist · Martyr
  6. 6 Liberian d. c. 165 Martyr · Companion of Justin
  7. 7 Paeon d. c. 165 Martyr · Companion of Justin
  8. 8 Thraseas of Eumenia d. c. AD 165 (martyr, buried at Smyrna) Bishop of Eumenia · Martyr
  9. 9 Sagaris of Laodicea d. c. AD 166 (martyr) Bishop of Laodicea · Martyr
  10. 10 Alexander of Lyon d. 177 Phrygian physician · Martyr of Lyon
  11. 11 Attalus of Pergamum d. 177 Roman citizen · Martyr of Lyon
  12. 12 Biblis of Lyon d. 177 Confessor who recovered her faith · Martyr
  13. 13 Blandina of Lyon c. 162 – 177 Slave · Martyr of the church of Lyon
  14. 14 Maturus of Lyon d. 177 Recent convert · Martyr
  15. 15 Ponticus of Lyon c. 162 – 177 Boy martyr of Lyon
  16. 16 Pothinus of Lyon c. 87 – 177 First bishop of Lyon · Martyr at ninety
  17. 17 Sanctus of Vienne d. 177 Deacon of Vienne · Martyr
  18. 18 Vettius Epagathus d. 177 Advocate of the accused · Martyr of Lyon
  19. 19 Aquilinus of Scillium d. 17 July 180 Scillitan martyr
  20. 20 Cittinus of Scillium d. 17 July 180 Scillitan martyr
  21. 21 Donata of Scillium d. 17 July 180 Scillitan martyr
  22. 22 Evarestus of Smyrna attested AD 155–160 Scribe of the Martyrdom of Polycarp
  23. 23 Felix of Scillium d. 17 July 180 Scillitan martyr
  24. 24 Generosa of Scillium d. 17 July 180 Scillitan martyr
  25. 25 Januaria of Scillium d. 17 July 180 Scillitan martyr
  26. 26 Laetantius of Scillium d. 17 July 180 Scillitan martyr
  27. 27 Marcianus of Smyrna attested AD 155–160 Courier-editor of the Martyrdom of Polycarp
  28. 28 Nartzalus of Scillium d. 17 July 180 Scillitan martyr
  29. 29 Secunda of Scillium d. 17 July 180 Scillitan martyr
  30. 30 Speratus of Scillium d. 17 July 180 Spokesman of the Scillitan martyrs
  31. 31 Vestia of Scillium d. 17 July 180 Scillitan martyr
  32. 32 Veturius of Scillium d. 17 July 180 Scillitan martyr

Every name links to its profile: the dates, the office, and every primary source that carries the name. 30 of these 32 have no Wikipedia article — for them this archive may be the fullest sourced record online.

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