The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Donata of Scillium
d. 17 July 180 · Scillitan martyr · Scillium → Carthage
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Donata of Scillium was
One of the five women of Scillium, and author of the single most-quoted line of the whole Acts — the earliest crisp Latin statement of the Christian relation to the state: “Honour to Caesar as Caesar; but fear to God.” Pressed to swear by the emperor’s genius, she distinguished the loyalty owed the ruler from the reverence owed God alone. Beheaded with her companions at Carthage.
Also listed in martyrs, women and under marcus aurelius.
Common questions
When did Donata die?
Donata of Scillium is dated d. 17 July 180 in the archive, which places Donata in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).
What did Donata write?
Donata of Scillium has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: Reply to the proconsul (Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs).
Which early sources mention Donata?
Donata of Scillium is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Court transcript and The Hieronymian compilers. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Donata from?
The archive associates Donata of Scillium with Scillium, Carthage. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Writings (1)
Reply to the proconsul (Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs)
17 July 180Honour to Caesar as Caesar; but fear to God.Read the interlinear source text →
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs 9
c. AD 180Donata said, ‘Honour to Caesar as Caesar; but fear to God.’Court transcript · 9 · source text
Martyrologium Hieronymianum (the Scillitan feast, 17 July)
c. AD 450Connected in the archive
People
- Speratus of Scillium
- Vestia of Scillium
- Secunda of Scillium
- Laetantius of Scillium
- P. Vigellius Saturninus
Events in this lifetime
- AD 112 · Pliny writes Trajan, AD 112
- AD 117 · Symeon and Ignatius martyred, AD 117
- AD 135 · Bar Kokhba crushed; Aelia Capitolina, AD 135
- AD 144 · Marcion expelled at Rome, AD 144
- AD 156 · The New Prophecy erupts, AD 156
- AD 177 · Persecution at Lyon and Vienne, AD 177
- AD 180 · The Scillitan martyrs, AD 180
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Donata.