The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313 · External witness
Severa
fl. AD 244–249 (death unrecorded) · Empress · Wife of Philip the Arab · Rome
External witness
Who Severa was
Wife of the emperor Philip, and the recipient of a letter from Origen — which places the greatest Christian scholar of the age in correspondence with the imperial household. Eusebius names her in the same breath as the tradition that Philip himself was a Christian, a tradition he reports carefully and does not vouch for.
Named once in Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History; no other ancient source names her.
Also listed in non-christian witnesses, women and roman emperors.
Common questions
When was Severa active?
Severa is dated fl. AD 244–249 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Severa in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).
Which early sources mention Severa?
Severa is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Severa from?
The archive associates Severa with Rome.
Who were Severa’s contemporaries?
The archive links Severa to 2 other figures, including Origen of Alexandria and Emperor Philip the Arab. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (1)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History VI.36.3
c. AD 325[Origen wrote a letter to the emperor Philip, and another to his wife Severa.]Eusebius of Caesarea · Ecclesiastical History VI.36.3 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 180 · The Scillitan martyrs, AD 180
- AD 190 · The Quartodeciman controversy, AD 190
- AD 202 · Perpetua and Felicity martyred, AD 202
- AD 235 · Maximinus Thrax targets the clergy, AD 235
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Severa.
- 1Rome