CHAPTER V

THE MARTYRS ULPIAN AND ÆDESIUS

ABOUT the same time, and in those very days, there was also a young man named Ulpianus, at the city of Tyre, who, after dreadful torments, and the most severe scourgings, was sowed in a raw bull’s hide, together with a dog and poisonous asp, and thrown into the sea. Hence, he appears deservedly to claim a place among the martyrdoms noticed with Apphianus. A short time after, very much the same sufferings were endured by Ædesius, who was the own brother of Apphianus, not only in the flesh, but in God, after innumerable confessions, and protracted torments in bonds, after being repeatedly condemned by the judges to the mines in Palestine, and after a life and conversation, in which, amid all these circumstances, his garb and deportment were those of a philosopher. He had enjoyed an education still more finished than his brother, and had studied the different branches of philosophy. When he saw the judge at Alexandria condemning the Christians there, and rioting beyond all bounds, sometimes insulting grave and decent men in various ways, sometimes consigning females of the greatest modesty, and virgins who had devoted themselves to the duties of religion, to panders, to endure every kind of abuse and obscenity, he made an attempt similar to that of his brother. As these things appeared insufferable, he drew near with determined resolution to the judge, and with his words and acts covered him with shame. For this he courageously endured multiplied forms of torment, and was finally honoured with his brother’s death, and cast into the sea a short time after his brother’s martyrdom.