The Apologists · AD 130–180
Germanicus of Smyrna
d. c. 155 · Martyr of Smyrna · Smyrna
The Apologists
Who Germanicus of Smyrna was
A young Christian of Smyrna whose courage opens the Martyrdom of Polycarp: when the proconsul urged him to pity his own youth and recant, Germanicus instead “dragged the beast toward himself,” wishing to be freed the sooner from an unjust life. His death enraged the crowd into the shout — “Away with the atheists! Let Polycarp be sought” — that led straight to the aged bishop’s arrest. The company’s example, and its one apostate, are recorded with equal honesty.
Also listed in martyrs.
Common questions
When did Germanicus die?
Germanicus of Smyrna is dated d. c. 155 in the archive, which places Germanicus in the Apologists (AD 130–180). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Germanicus?
Germanicus of Smyrna is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from The church of Smyrna and The Hieronymian compilers. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Germanicus from?
The archive associates Germanicus of Smyrna with Smyrna.
Who were Germanicus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Germanicus of Smyrna to 3 other figures, including Polycarp of Smyrna, Quintus the Phrygian and Statius Quadratus. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Martyrdom of Polycarp 3
c. AD 156…the most noble Germanicus strengthened the timidity of others by his own patience, and fought heroically with the wild beasts, dragging the animal toward himself.The church of Smyrna · 3 · source text
Martyrologium Hieronymianum (feast of Germanicus)
c. AD 450Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 95 · Domitian’s reprisals, AD 95
- AD 96 · Rome writes to Corinth: 1 Clement, AD 96
- 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
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Germanicus.