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| Potamiæna.
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Chapter V.—Potamiæna.1799
| 1799 Potamiæna, one of the most celebrated of the martyrs that
suffered under Severus, is made by Rufinus a disciple of Origen, but
Eusebius does not say that she was, and indeed, in making Basilides the
seventh of Origen’s disciples to suffer, he evidently excludes
Potamiæna from the number. Quite a full account of her martyrdom
is given by Palladius in his Historia Lausiaca, chap. 3
(Migne’s Patr. Gr. XXXIV. 1014), which contains some
characteristic details not mentioned by Eusebius. It appears from that
account that she was a slave, and that her master, not being able to
induce her to yield to his passion, accused her before the judge as a
Christian, bribing him, if possible, to break her resolution by
tortures and then return her to him, or, if that was not possible, to
put her to death as a Christian. We cannot judge as to the exact truth
of this and other details related by Palladius, but his history (which
was written early in the fifth century) is, in the main at least,
reliable, except where it deals with miracles and prodigies (cf. the
article on Palladius of Helenopolis, in the Dict. of Christ.
Biog.). |
1. Basilides1800
| 1800 Basilides is clearly reckoned here among the disciples of Origen.
The correctness of Eusebius’ statement has been doubted, but
there is no ground for such doubt, for there is no reason to suppose
that all of Origen’s pupils became converted under his
instruction. | may be counted the seventh of these.
He led to martyrdom the celebrated Potamiæna, who is still famous
among the people of the country for the many things which she endured
for the preservation of her chastity and virginity. For she was
blooming in the perfection of her mind and her physical graces. Having
suffered much for the faith of Christ, finally after tortures dreadful
and terrible to speak of, she with her mother, Marcella,1801
| 1801 Of
Marcella, we know only that she was the mother of the more celebrated
Potamiæna, and suffered martyrdom by fire. | was put to death by fire.
2. They say that the judge,
Aquila by name, having inflicted severe tortures upon her entire body,
at last threatened to hand her over to the gladiators for bodily abuse.
After a little consideration, being asked for her decision, she made a
reply which was regarded as impious.
3. Thereupon she received
sentence immediately, and Basilides, one of the officers of the army,
led her to death. But as the people attempted to annoy and insult her
with abusive words, he drove back her insulters, showing her much pity
and kindness. And perceiving the man’s sympathy for her, she
exhorted him to be of good courage, for she would supplicate her Lord
for him after her departure, and he would soon receive a reward for the
kindness he had shown her.
4. Having said this, she nobly
sustained the issue, burning pitch being poured little by little, over
various parts of her body, from the sole of her feet to the crown of
her head. Such was the conflict endured by this famous
maiden.
5. Not long after this
Basilides, being asked by his fellow-soldiers to swear for a certain
reason, declared that it was not lawful for him to swear at all, for he
was a Christian, and he confessed this openly. At first they thought
that he was jesting, but when he continued to affirm it, he was led to
the judge, and, acknowledging his conviction before him, he was
imprisoned. But the brethren in God coming to him and inquiring the
reason of this sudden and remarkable resolution, he is reported to have
said that Potamiæna, for three days after her martyrdom, stood
beside him by night and placed a crown on his head and said that she
had besought the Lord for him and had obtained what she asked, and that
soon she would take him with her.
6. Thereupon the brethren gave
him the seal1802
| 1802 The word σφραγίς, “seal,” was very commonly used by the Fathers to
signify baptism (see Suicer’s Thesaurus). | of the Lord; and on the next day,
after giving glorious testimony for the Lord, he was beheaded. And many
others in Alexandria are recorded to have accepted speedily the word of
Christ in those times.
7. For Potamiæna appeared
to them in their dreams and exhorted them. But let this suffice in
regard to this matter.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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