E02095: The Martyrdom of *Symphorosa and her Seven Sons (martyrs of Tivoli, S01165) is written in Latin presumably in Tivoli near Rome in Late Antiquity. It narrates the trial and death of Symphorosa and her sons under the emperor Hadrian.
Creators: name: Mpignot
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2016
Subjects: History

description: Martyrdom of Symphorosa and her Seven Sons (BHL 7971)<br><br>Summary:<br><br>Prologue [only found in the version published by Mombritius]: <br><br>Sanctus Eusebius historiographus memorat Aphricanum pene omnium de urbe regia atque de tota Italia Christi martyrium gesta conscripsisse. Nam Symphorosam dixit apud tyburtinam urbem cum septem filiis suis una die ab Adriano principe hoc ordine interfectam.<br><br>‘Saint Eusebius the history writer recalls that Africanus put into writing accounts about almost all martyrs of Christ from Rome and Italy. Thus he told that Symphorosa was killed in the city of Tibur (Tivoli) with her seven sons in one day by the emperor Hadrian in the following manner.'<br><br>§ 1: Hadrian builds a palace and sacrifices to the idols, who tell him that they suffer because of the widow Symphorosa and her seven sons who invoke God. The idols tell him that Symphorosa should sacrifice, so that they may fulfil his prayers. Hadrian summons her and her sons and asks them to sacrifice.<br><br>§ 2: Symphorosa recalls her husband Getulius and his brother Amatius, tribunes of the emperor who died for their Christian faith and are now among the angels and enjoy eternal life in heaven.<br><br>§ 3: Hadrian asks Symphorosa to sacrifice, otherwise he will sacrifice her with her seven sons. Symphorosa is amazed to be worthy of being offered to God, but Hadrian explains that she will be sacrificed to the gods. Symphorosa replies that she cannot be received by them as a sacrifice, but by Christ, and as a result his gods will burn. Hadrian asks her again to sacrifice or she will be put to death.<br><br>§ 4: Symphorosa tells Hadrian that she has no fear, but desires to rest with her husband. Hadrian orders her to be brought to the temple of Hercules and to be beaten with sticks and hanged by her hair. Then, however, as he cannot change her mind, he orders her to be thrown into the river with a huge stone hanging around her neck. Her body is recovered by Eugenius, the chief magistrate (principalis) of the curia Tiburina and buried in the suburbs of the same city.<br><br>§ 5: The next day Hadrian summons the seven sons and threatens them, in order to bring them to sacrifice, however without success. He then orders them to be bound to seven stakes near the temple of Hercules and tortured. Then the first, Crescentius, is pierced through the throat, the second, Julianus, in the chest, the third, Nemesius, in the heart, the fourth, Primitivus, in the navel, the fifth, Justinus, in the back, the sixth, Stracteus, in the side and the seventh, Eugenius, from head to bottom.<br><br>§ 6: The next day, Hadrian comes to the temple of Hercules and orders their bodies to be thrown in a deep pit, in a place called by the pagan priests 'at the seven Biothanatos' (Ad septem Biothanatos). <br><br>[Additional episode found in Mombritius’ edition: On the octave of the martyrs’ death, the daughter of the emperor Hadrian comes to the place where the saints are buried and the Devil speaks from her mouth and says that he has been burned by the seven brothers. The emperor is full of fear and his magicians and soothsayers lead him underground beneath the palace in Tivoli; they tell him that if he sees the light of day he will die. After spending a full year there, however, Hadrian goes outside eager to see sunlight and is immediately taken and assaulted by a demon until he dies. Christ starts to be feared.]<br><br>The persecution is then halted for a year and six months.<br><br>In quo spatio omnium martyrum honorata sunt sancta corpora, et constructis tumulis condita cum omni diligentia: quorum nomina descripta sunt in libro vitæ.<br><br>‘During that time the holy bodies of all martyrs were honoured, and tombs having being built, they were embalmed with every care. Their names are written down in the book of life.'<br><br>The feast of the martyr Symphorosa and her seven sons is celebrated on the 15th day of the calends of August (= 18 July) [alternative date according to the version published by Mombritius: ‘the fifth day of the calends of July (= 27 June)]. Their bodies rest on the via Tiburtina at the eighth mile from the city [alternative place according to the version published by Mombritius: ‘ninth mile’]. <br><br>Text: Acta Sanctorum, Jul. IV, 358-359 (martyrdom account); Mombritius 1910, II, 552-553 for the prologue and additions. Summary and translation: M. Pignot.