Letter of Antoninus to the Common Assembly of Asia (about our religion).
The Emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus [Armenius[1]] Pontifex Maximus, in the fifteenth year of his Tribunate, Consul for the third time,[2] to the Common Assembly of Asia greeting.
I am confident[3] that the Gods also look to it that such persons should not escape detection. For it is much more their concern than yours to punish those who refuse to worship them. But you harass these men,[4] and harden them in their conviction, to which they hold fast, by accusing them of being atheists. For indeed they would rather be thought to be accused and die for their own God than live. Consequently they even come off victorious, giving up their lives rather than comply with your demands. And with respect to the past and present earthquakes[5] it is not amiss to remind you of them, despondent as you are whenever they occur and yet for ever contrasting your belief and conduct with theirs.
- ↑ An unusual form for Άρμενιακός, a title not given till 163.
- ↑ Marcus was consul for the third time and renewed his Trib. pot. for the fifteenth time in 161, in which year he became emperor on 7 March and within a few days associated Lucius Verus in the empire with himself.
- ↑ The beginning of the rescript is apparently lost. cp. for the opening words the deorum iniuriae dis curae of Tacitus.
- ↑ The Justin text says "charge them with disorder," and adds "and bring other charges against them which we cannot prove."
- ↑ There were several earthquakes in Asia Minor between 138 and 180, Rhodes, Smyrna, and Cyzicus being destroyed, but the dates are not accurately settled. There was certainly one at Smyrna about 177, but that is too late. There was one at least in the reign of Pius, and the one here mentioned is supposed by some to have occurred about 152, but I think it may possibly be identified with one by which Cyzicus was chiefly affected; see Fronto, Ad Ant. 2 (A.D. 162).
