The Apologists · AD 130–180 · External witness
Junius Rusticus
fl. c. 165 (Prefect of Rome) · Urban Prefect of Rome · Judge of Justin · Rome
External witness
Who Junius Rusticus was
Twice consul and urban prefect of Rome, a Stoic teacher who had himself instructed the young Marcus Aurelius (who thanks him warmly in the Meditations for turning him to philosophy). It fell to Rusticus to try Justin Martyr and his six companions; the surviving transcript records his interrogation and his sentence: “Let those who have refused to sacrifice to the gods and to obey the command of the emperor be scourged and led away to suffer capital punishment.” The philosopher-prefect condemning the philosopher-apologist is one of the era’s sharpest ironies.
Also listed in non-christian witnesses.
Common questions
When was Junius Rusticus active?
Junius Rusticus is dated fl. c. 165 (Prefect of Rome) in the archive, which places Junius Rusticus 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 Junius Rusticus?
Junius Rusticus is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Court transcript and Marcus Aurelius. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Junius Rusticus from?
The archive associates Junius Rusticus with Rome.
Who were Junius Rusticus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Junius Rusticus to 4 other figures, including Justin Martyr, Crescens the Cynic, Chariton and Emperor Marcus Aurelius. 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.
Acts of Justin and Companions 5
c. AD 165Rusticus the prefect pronounced sentence, saying, ‘Let those who have refused to sacrifice to the gods and to yield to the command of the emperor be scourged and led away to suffer the punishment of decapitation, according to the laws.’Court transcript · 5 · source text
Meditations I.7 (the emperor's debt to his Stoic master)
c. AD 175From Rusticus I received the impression that my character required improvement and discipline.Marcus Aurelius · Meditations I.7 · source text
Connected 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
- AD 156 · The New Prophecy erupts, AD 156
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Junius Rusticus.
- 1Rome