E01957: Ammianus Marcellinus in his Res Gestae, written in the 380s, mentions the violent killing by a pagan mob in 361 of *Georgios of Cappadocia (bishop of Alexandria, S01145), along with the Christian officials Dracontius and Diodorus. Their remains are burned and thrown into the sea, lest they be venerated as martyrs by the Christians. Written in Latin in Rome.

Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae, 22.11.8-10

The events recounted below occurred in Alexandria when news arrived of the execution of the unpopular dux of Egypt, Artemius:

(8.) Ecce autem repente perlato laetabili nuntio indicante exstinctum Artemium plebs omnis elata gaudio insperato uocibus horrendis infrendens Georgium petit raptumque diuersis mulcandi generibus proterens et conculcans diuaricatis ... pedibus. (9.) Cumque eo Dracontius monetae praepositus et Diodorus quidam ueluti comes iniectis per crura funibus simul exanimati sunt; ille, quod aram in moneta, quam regebat, recens locatam euertit, alter, quod, dum aedificandae praeesset ecclesiae, cirros puerorum licentius detondebat, id quoque ad deorum cultum existimans pertinere. (10.) Quo non contenta multitudo inmanis dilaniata cadauera peremptorum camelis imposita uexit ad litus isdemque subdito igne crematis cineres proiecit in mare id metuens, ut clamabat, ne collectis supremis aedes illis exstruerentur ut reliquis, qui deuiare a religione compulsi pertulere cruciabiles poenas ad usque gloriosam mortem intemerata fide progressi, et nunc martyres appellantur. poterantque miserandi homines ad crudele supplicium ducti Christianorum adiumento defendi, ni Georgi odio omnes indiscrete flagrabant.

'(8.) And lo! On the sudden arrival of the glad news that told of the death of Artemius, all the populace, transported by this unlooked-for joy, grinding their teeth and uttering fearful outcries, made for Georgius and seized him, maltreating him in diverse ways and trampling upon him; then they dragged him about spread-eagle fashion, and killed him. (9.) And with him Dracontius, superintendent of the mint, and one Diodorus, who had the honorary rank of count, were dragged about with ropes fastened to their legs and both killed; the former, because he overthrew an altar, newly set up in the mint, of which he had charge; the other, because, while overseer of the building of a church, he arbitrarily cut off the curls of some boys, thinking that this also was a fashion belonging to the pagan worship. (10.) Not content with this, the inhuman mob loaded the mutilated corpses of the slain men upon camels and carried them to the shore; there they burned them on a fire and threw the ashes into the sea, fearing (as they shouted) lest their remains might be collected and a church built for them, as for others who, when urged to abandon their religion, endured terrible tortures, even going so far as to meet a glorious death with unsullied faith, whence they are now called martyrs. And these wretched men who were dragged off to cruel torture might have been protected by the aid of the Christians, were it not that all men without distinction burned with hatred for Georgius.'

Text and translation: Rolfe 1935-39.