Publius Vigellius Saturninus was a Romansenator, who was active during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. He is best known as the official who presided at the trial of the Scillitan Martyrs, dated to 17 July 180.
His complete name is attested in inscriptions as Publius Vigellius Raius Plarius Saturninus Atilius Braduanus Caucidius Tertullus. His origins are not known for certain, although Géza Alföldy believed he came from the Greek-speaking part of the empire.[1] Bernard Rémy claims that based on the elements in his name Saturninus is related to Herodes Atticus.[2]
Only portions of the cursus honorum of Saturninus, drawn from various sources, remain. His earliest recorded office, based on an inscription on a statue base found at Troesmis was as legatus legionis or commander of Legio V Macedonica.[3] It had been thought this brief inscription was evidence that he had been governor of Moesia Inferior, but Alföldy has shown that it is more accurately interpreted as evidence for his command of the V Macedonica.[4] Both Rémy and Alföldy date his commission as extending from the year 159 to 162.[2][5] Another post he is attested as holding is governor of the imperial province of Lycia et Pamphylia, which Rémy dated from 162 to 164.[2] His term as suffect consul followed.
The latest office Saturninus is recorded as holding was one of the apices of a successful consular career, proconsular governor of Africa, which was in 180/181; since a senator was eligible for this office about fifteen years after his consulate, his consulate can be estimated to have been around the year 165.[6] It was during his tenure in Africa that he presided over the trial of the six African Christians known as the Scillitan Martyrs in Carthage.[7]
His life after he stepped down from the governorship is unknown. According to Tertullian's writings, he lost his eyesight in his later years.[8]
Referencesedit
^Alföldy, Konsulat und Senatorenstand unter der Antoninen (Bonn: Rudolf Habelt Verlag, 1977), p. 320
^ abcRémy, Les carrières sénatoriales dans les provinces romaines d'Anatolie au Haut-Empire (31 av. J.-C. - 284 ap. J.-C.) (Pont-Bithynie, Galatie, Cappadoce, Lycie-Pamphylie et Cilicie) (Istanbul: Institut Français d'Études Anatoliennes-Georges Dumézil, 1989), p. 311
^An account of the trial is preserved in the Passio Sanctorum Scillitanorum, translated by J. Stevenson and W.H. C. Frend, A New Eusebius: Documents illustrating the history of the Church to AD 337 (London: SPCK, 1987), pp. 44f
publius, vigellius, saturninus, roman, senator, active, during, reign, marcus, aurelius, best, known, official, presided, trial, scillitan, martyrs, dated, july, complete, name, attested, inscriptions, publius, vigellius, raius, plarius, saturninus, atilius, b. Publius Vigellius Saturninus was a Roman senator who was active during the reign of Marcus Aurelius He is best known as the official who presided at the trial of the Scillitan Martyrs dated to 17 July 180 His complete name is attested in inscriptions as Publius Vigellius Raius Plarius Saturninus Atilius Braduanus Caucidius Tertullus His origins are not known for certain although Geza Alfoldy believed he came from the Greek speaking part of the empire 1 Bernard Remy claims that based on the elements in his name Saturninus is related to Herodes Atticus 2 Only portions of the cursus honorum of Saturninus drawn from various sources remain His earliest recorded office based on an inscription on a statue base found at Troesmis was as legatus legionis or commander of Legio V Macedonica 3 It had been thought this brief inscription was evidence that he had been governor of Moesia Inferior but Alfoldy has shown that it is more accurately interpreted as evidence for his command of the V Macedonica 4 Both Remy and Alfoldy date his commission as extending from the year 159 to 162 2 5 Another post he is attested as holding is governor of the imperial province of Lycia et Pamphylia which Remy dated from 162 to 164 2 His term as suffect consul followed The latest office Saturninus is recorded as holding was one of the apices of a successful consular career proconsular governor of Africa which was in 180 181 since a senator was eligible for this office about fifteen years after his consulate his consulate can be estimated to have been around the year 165 6 It was during his tenure in Africa that he presided over the trial of the six African Christians known as the Scillitan Martyrs in Carthage 7 His life after he stepped down from the governorship is unknown According to Tertullian s writings he lost his eyesight in his later years 8 References edit Alfoldy Konsulat und Senatorenstand unter der Antoninen Bonn Rudolf Habelt Verlag 1977 p 320 a b c Remy Les carrieres senatoriales dans les provinces romaines d Anatolie au Haut Empire 31 av J C 284 ap J C Pont Bithynie Galatie Cappadoce Lycie Pamphylie et Cilicie Istanbul Institut Francais d Etudes Anatoliennes Georges Dumezil 1989 p 311 CIL III 775 ILS 1116 Alfoldy Konsulat und Senatorenstand pp 365 367 Alfoldy Konsulat und Senatorenstand p 299 Alfoldy Konsulat und Senatorenstand p 180 An account of the trial is preserved in the Passio Sanctorum Scillitanorum translated by J Stevenson and W H C Frend A New Eusebius Documents illustrating the history of the Church to AD 337 London SPCK 1987 pp 44f Tertullian To Scapula Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Publius Vigellius Saturninus amp oldid 1186172270, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
