The Ancient Mediterranean Religions Index Database

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Please note: the results are produced through a computerized process which may frequently lead to errors, both in incorrect tagging and in other issues. Please use with caution.
Due to load times, full text fetching is currently attempted for validated results only.
Full texts for Hebrew Bible and rabbinic texts is kindly supplied by Sefaria; for Greek and Latin texts, by Perseus Scaife, for the Quran, by Tanzil.net

For a list of book indices included, see here.

graph

All subjects (including unvalidated):

subject	book bibliographic info
decius	Azar (2016), Exegeting the Jews: the early reception of the Johannine "Jews", 95 Bremmer (2008), Greek Religion and Culture, the Bible, and the Ancient Near East, 181 Breytenbach and Tzavella (2022), Early Christianity in Athens, Attica, and Adjacent Areas, 113, 312 Kahlos (2019), Religious Dissent in Late Antiquity, 350-450, 25 Kitzler (2015), From 'Passio Perpetuae' to 'Acta Perpetuae', 65, 73, 106 Malherbe et al. (2014), Light from the Gentiles: Hellenistic Philosophy and Early Christianity: Collected Essays of Abraham J, 757 McGowan (1999), Ascetic Eucharists: Food and Drink in Early Christian Ritual Meals, 204 Mendez (2022), The Cult of Stephen in Jerusalem: Inventing a Patron Martyr, 7 Mitchell and Pilhofer (2019), Early Christianity in Asia Minor and Cyprus: From the Margins to the Mainstream, 22, 24 Neusner Green and Avery-Peck (2022), Judaism from Moses to Muhammad: An Interpretation: Turning Points and Focal Points, 178 Niccolai (2023), Christianity, Philosophy, and Roman Power: Constantine, Julian, and the Bishops on Exegesis and Empire. 10, 118, 127 Stanton (2021), Unity and Disunity in Greek and Christian Thought under the Roman Peace, 175 Van Nuffelen (2012), Orosius and the Rhetoric of History, 78
decius, baths of	Lampe (2003), Christians at Rome in the First Two Centuries: From Paul to Valentinus, 60
decius, decius, publius mus	Levine Allison and Crossan (2006), The Historical Jesus in Context, 387, 389
decius, decius, trajan, c. messius quintus traianus	Hug (2023), Fertility, Ideology, and the Cultural Politics of Reproduction at Rome, 221, 228
decius, decree/persecution of	Dijkstra and Raschle (2020), Religious Violence in the Ancient World: From Classical Athens to Late Antiquity, 61, 180, 181, 183, 185, 186, 187, 188, 194, 195, 196, 198, 200
decius, edict of	Moss (2012), Ancient Christian Martyrdom: Diverse Practices, Theologies, and Traditions, 188
decius, emperor	Bruun and Edmondson (2015), The Oxford Handbook of Roman Epigraphy, 361 Huttner (2013), Early Christianity in the Lycus Valley, 340 Iricinschi et al. (2013), Beyond the Gnostic Gospels: Studies Building on the Work of Elaine Pagels, 64 Levine Allison and Crossan (2006), The Historical Jesus in Context, 368 Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 356, 536, 539 Yates and Dupont (2020), The Bible in Christian North Africa: Part I: Commencement to the Confessiones of Augustine (ca. 180 to 400 CE), 51
decius, epistulae, letters, formal	Bruun and Edmondson (2015), The Oxford Handbook of Roman Epigraphy, 361
decius, magius	Augoustakis (2014), Flavian Poetry and its Greek Past, 271, 272, 276, 277, 279, 281, 285 Verhagen (2022), Security and Credit in Roman Law: The Historical Evolution of Pignus and Hypotheca, 271, 272, 276, 277, 279, 281, 285
decius, mundus	Griffiths (1975), The Isis-Book (Metamorphoses, Book XI), 318, 327
decius, mus, deuotio, devotio, of p.	Davies (2004), Rome's Religious History: Livy, Tacitus and Ammianus on their Gods, 58, 93, 104, 110, 128
decius, mus, p.	Eidinow and Driediger-Murphy (2019), Esther Eidinow, Ancient Divination and Experience, 89 Riess (2012), Performing interpersonal violence: court, curse, and comedy in fourth-century BCE Athens, 207 Santangelo (2013), Roman Frugality: Modes of Moderation from the Archaic Age to the Early Empire and Beyond, 71, 208
decius, mus, p., consul	Bruun and Edmondson (2015), The Oxford Handbook of Roman Epigraphy, 55
decius, mus, publius	Roller (2018), Disclosure and Discretion in Roman Astrology: Manilius and his Augustan Contemporaries, 102, 103, 104, 105, 108
decius, paulina, roman matron, wife of mundus	Mueller (2002), Roman Religion in Valerius Maximus, 53, 54
decius, persecution by	Bremmer (2017), Magic and Martyrs in Early Christianity: Collected Essays, 11, 240, 352 Moss (2012), Ancient Christian Martyrdom: Diverse Practices, Theologies, and Traditions, 50, 65, 73
decius, roman emperor	Maier and Waldner (2022), Desiring Martyrs: Locating Martyrs in Space and Time, 87, 94, 108, 207

List of validated texts:

17 validated results for "decius"

1. Plato, Republic, None (5th cent. BCE - 4th cent. BCE)
Tagged with subjects: • Decius Magius

Found in books: Augoustakis (2014), Flavian Poetry and its Greek Past, 279; Verhagen (2022), Security and Credit in Roman Law: The Historical Evolution of Pignus and Hypotheca, 279

^575a ἀλλὰ τυραννικῶς ἐν αὐτῷ ὁ Ἔρως ἐν πάσῃ ἀναρχίᾳ καὶ ἀνομίᾳ ζῶν, ἅτε αὐτὸς ὢν μόναρχος, τὸν ἔχοντά τε αὐτὸν ὥσπερ πόλιν ἄξει ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τόλμαν, ὅθεν αὑτόν τε καὶ τὸν περὶ αὑτὸν θόρυβον θρέψει, τὸν μὲν ἔξωθεν εἰσεληλυθότα ἀπὸ κακῆς ὁμιλίας, τὸν δʼ ἔνδοθεν ὑπὸ τῶν αὐτῶν τρόπων καὶ ἑαυτοῦ ἀνεθέντα καὶ ἐλευθερωθέντα· ἢ οὐχ οὗτος ὁ βίος τοῦ τοιούτου;' ' None

^575a but the passion that dwells in him as a tyrant will live in utmost anarchy and lawlessness, and, since it is itself sole autocrat, will urge the polity, so to speak, of him in whom it dwells to dare anything and everything in order to find support for himself and the hubbub of his henchmen, in part introduced from outside by evil associations, and in part released and liberated within by the same habits of life as his. Is not this the life of such a one? It is this, he said. And if, I said, there are only a few of this kind in a city,' ' None

2. Cicero, On Divination, 1.51 (2nd cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE)
Tagged with subjects: • Decius Mus, P. • Decius Mus, Publius

Found in books: Mowat (2021), Engendering the Future: Divination and the Construction of Gender in the Late Roman Republic, 157; Santangelo (2013), Roman Frugality: Modes of Moderation from the Archaic Age to the Early Empire and Beyond, 71

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1.51 At vero P. Decius ille Q. F., qui primus e Deciis consul fuit, cum esset tribunus militum M. Valerio A. Cornelio consulibus a Samnitibusque premeretur noster exercitus, cum pericula proeliorum iniret audacius monereturque, ut cautior esset, dixit, quod extat in annalibus, se sibi in somnis visum esse, cum in mediis hostibus versaretur, occidere cum maxuma gloria. Et tum quidem incolumis exercitum obsidione liberavit; post triennium autem, cum consul esset, devovit se et in aciem Latinorum inrupit armatus. Quo eius facto superati sunt et deleti Latini. Cuius mors ita gloriosa fuit, ut eandem concupisceret filius.'' None

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1.51 And yet let me cite another: the famous Publius Decius, son of Quintus, and the first of that family to become consul, was military tribune in the consulship of Marcus Valerius and Aulus Cornelius while our army was being hard pressed by the Samnites. When, because of his rushing too boldly into the dangers of battle, he was advised to be more cautious, he replied, according to the annals, I dreamed that by dying in the midst of the enemy I should win immortal fame. And though he was unharmed at that time and extricated the army from its difficulties, yet three years later, when consul, he devoted himself to death and rushed full-armed against the battle-line of the Latins. By this act of his the Latins were overcome and destroyed; and so glorious was his death that his son sought the same fate.'' None

3. None, None, nan (1st cent. BCE - missingth cent. CE)
Tagged with subjects: • Decius • Decius Magius • Decius Mus, P. • Decius Mus, Publius • Livy, and the devotiones of the Decii • deuotio (devotio) of P. Decius Mus

Found in books: Augoustakis (2014), Flavian Poetry and its Greek Past, 271, 279; Bowditch (2001), Cicero on the Philosophy of Religion: On the Nature of the Gods and On Divination, 87; Bremmer (2008), Greek Religion and Culture, the Bible, and the Ancient Near East, 181; Davies (2004), Rome's Religious History: Livy, Tacitus and Ammianus on their Gods, 58, 93, 104, 110, 128; Eidinow and Driediger-Murphy (2019), Esther Eidinow, Ancient Divination and Experience, 89; Mowat (2021), Engendering the Future: Divination and the Construction of Gender in the Late Roman Republic, 157; Santangelo (2013), Roman Frugality: Modes of Moderation from the Archaic Age to the Early Empire and Beyond, 71, 208; Verhagen (2022), Security and Credit in Roman Law: The Historical Evolution of Pignus and Hypotheca, 271, 279

4. Tacitus, Annals, 2.85 (1st cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
Tagged with subjects: • Mundus, Decius • Paulina (Roman matron, wife of Decius Mundus)

Found in books: Griffiths (1975), The Isis-Book (Metamorphoses, Book XI), 327; Mueller (2002), Roman Religion in Valerius Maximus, 53

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2.85 Eodem anno gravibus senatus decretis libido feminarum coercita cautumque ne quaestum corpore faceret cui avus aut pater aut maritus eques Romanus fuisset. nam Vistilia praetoria familia genita licentiam stupri apud aedilis vulgaverat, more inter veteres recepto, qui satis poenarum adversum impudicas in ipsa professione flagitii credebant. exactum et a Titidio Labeone Vistiliae marito cur in uxore delicti manifesta ultionem legis omisisset. atque illo praetendente sexaginta dies ad consultandum datos necdum praeterisse, satis visum de Vistilia statuere; eaque in insulam Seriphon abdita est. actum et de sacris Aegyptiis Iudaicisque pellendis factumque patrum consultum ut quattuor milia libertini generis ea superstitione infecta quis idonea aetas in insulam Sardiniam veherentur, coercendis illic latrociniis et, si ob gravitatem caeli interissent, vile damnum; ceteri cederent Italia nisi certam ante diem profanos ritus exuissent.'' None

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2.85 \xa0In the same year, bounds were set to female profligacy by stringent resolutions of the senate; and it was laid down that no woman should trade in her body, if her father, grandfather, or husband had been a Roman knight. For Vistilia, the daughter of a praetorian family, had advertised her venality on the aediles\' list â\x80\x94 the normal procedure among our ancestors, who imagined the unchaste to be sufficiently punished by the avowal of their infamy. Her husband, Titidius Labeo, was also required to explain why, in view of his wife\'s manifest guilt, he had not invoked the penalty of the law. As he pleaded that sixty days, not yet elapsed, were allowed for deliberation, it was thought enough to pass sentence on Vistilia, who was removed to the island of Seriphos. â\x80\x94 Another debate dealt with the proscription of the Egyptian and Jewish rites, and a senatorial edict directed that four thousand descendants of enfranchised slaves, tainted with that superstition and suitable in point of age, were to be shipped to Sardinia and there employed in suppressing brigandage: "if they succumbed to the pestilential climate, it was a cheap loss." The rest had orders to leave Italy, unless they had renounced their impious ceremonial by a given date. <'' None

5. None, None, nan (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
Tagged with subjects: • Decius Magius

Found in books: Augoustakis (2014), Flavian Poetry and its Greek Past, 277; Verhagen (2022), Security and Credit in Roman Law: The Historical Evolution of Pignus and Hypotheca, 277

6. None, None, nan (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
Tagged with subjects: • Decius Magius

Found in books: Augoustakis (2014), Flavian Poetry and its Greek Past, 279; Verhagen (2022), Security and Credit in Roman Law: The Historical Evolution of Pignus and Hypotheca, 279

7. None, None, nan (1st cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
Tagged with subjects: • Decius Magius

Found in books: Augoustakis (2014), Flavian Poetry and its Greek Past, 271, 272, 276, 277, 279, 281, 285; Verhagen (2022), Security and Credit in Roman Law: The Historical Evolution of Pignus and Hypotheca, 271, 272, 276, 277, 279, 281, 285

8. None, None, nan (1st cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
Tagged with subjects: • Decius Magius

Found in books: Augoustakis (2014), Flavian Poetry and its Greek Past, 279, 281; Verhagen (2022), Security and Credit in Roman Law: The Historical Evolution of Pignus and Hypotheca, 279, 281

9. None, None, nan (2nd cent. CE - missingth cent. CE)
Tagged with subjects: • Decius • Decius, decree/persecution of

Found in books: Dijkstra and Raschle (2020), Religious Violence in the Ancient World: From Classical Athens to Late Antiquity, 183; Kitzler (2015), From 'Passio Perpetuae' to 'Acta Perpetuae', 73

10. None, None, nan (2nd cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
Tagged with subjects: • Decius • Decius, decree/persecution of • Decius, emperor

Found in books: Dijkstra and Raschle (2020), Religious Violence in the Ancient World: From Classical Athens to Late Antiquity, 180; Malherbe et al. (2014), Light from the Gentiles: Hellenistic Philosophy and Early Christianity: Collected Essays of Abraham J, 757; Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 536

11. None, None, nan (2nd cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
Tagged with subjects: • Decius Magius

Found in books: Augoustakis (2014), Flavian Poetry and its Greek Past, 277, 279; Verhagen (2022), Security and Credit in Roman Law: The Historical Evolution of Pignus and Hypotheca, 277, 279

12. Eusebius of Caesarea, Ecclesiastical History, 6.39.2, 6.41 (3rd cent. CE - 4th cent. CE)
Tagged with subjects: • Decius • Decius, decree/persecution of

Found in books: Dijkstra and Raschle (2020), Religious Violence in the Ancient World: From Classical Athens to Late Antiquity, 187; Esler (2000), The Early Christian World, 246, 827; Mendez (2022), The Cult of Stephen in Jerusalem: Inventing a Patron Martyr, 7

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6.39.2 In Palestine, Alexander, bishop of the church of Jerusalem, was brought again on Christ's account before the governor's judgment seat in Caesarea, and having acquitted himself nobly in a second confession was cast into prison, crowned with the hoary locks of venerable age." " None

13. None, None, nan (3rd cent. CE - 4th cent. CE)
Tagged with subjects: • Decius (Roman emperor) • Decius, decree/persecution of

Found in books: Dijkstra and Raschle (2020), Religious Violence in the Ancient World: From Classical Athens to Late Antiquity, 200; Maier and Waldner (2022), Desiring Martyrs: Locating Martyrs in Space and Time, 108

14. Augustine, The City of God, 18.52 (4th cent. CE - 5th cent. CE)
Tagged with subjects: • Decius • Decius, emperor

Found in books: Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 539; Van Nuffelen (2012), Orosius and the Rhetoric of History, 78

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18.52 I do not think, indeed, that what some have thought or may think is rashly said or believed, that until the time of Antichrist the Church of Christ is not to suffer any persecutions besides those she has already suffered - that is, ten - and that the eleventh and last shall be inflicted by Antichrist. They reckon as the first that made by Nero, the second by Domitian, the third by Trajan, the fourth by Antoninus, the fifth by Severus, the sixth by Maximin, the seventh by Decius, the eighth by Valerian, the ninth by Aurelian, the tenth by Diocletian and Maximian. For as there were ten plagues in Egypt before the people of God could begin to go out, they think this is to be referred to as showing that the last persecution by Antichrist must be like the eleventh plague, in which the Egyptians, while following the Hebrews with hostility, perished in the Red Sea when the people of God passed through on dry land. Yet I do not think persecutions were prophetically signified by what was done in Egypt, however nicely and ingeniously those who think so may seem to have compared the two in detail, not by the prophetic Spirit, but by the conjecture of the human mind, which sometimes hits the truth, and sometimes is deceived. But what can those who think this say of the persecution in which the Lord Himself was crucified? In which number will they put it? And if they think the reckoning is to be made exclusive of this one, as if those must be counted which pertain to the body, and not that in which the Head Himself was set upon and slain, what can they make of that one which, after Christ ascended into heaven, took place in Jerusalem, when the blessed Stephen was stoned; when James the brother of John was slaughtered with the sword; when the Apostle Peter was imprisoned to be killed, and was set free by the angel; when the brethren were driven away and scattered from Jerusalem; when Saul, who afterward became the Apostle Paul, wasted the Church; and when he himself, publishing the glad tidings of the faith he had persecuted, suffered such things as he had inflicted, either from the Jews or from other nations, where he most fervently preached Christ everywhere? Why, then, do they think fit to start with Nero, when the Church in her growth had reached the times of Nero amid the most cruel persecutions; about which it would be too long to say anything? But if they think that only the persecutions made by kings ought to be reckoned, it was king Herod who also made a most grievous one after the ascension of the Lord. And what account do they give of Julian, whom they do not number in the ten? Did not he persecute the Church, who forbade the Christians to teach or learn liberal letters? Under him the elder Valentinian, who was the third emperor after him, stood forth as a confessor of the Christian faith, and was dismissed from his command in the army. I shall say nothing of what he did at Antioch, except to mention his being struck with wonder at the freedom and cheerfulness of one most faithful and steadfast young man, who, when many were seized to be tortured, was tortured during a whole day, and sang under the instrument of torture, until the emperor feared lest he should succumb under the continued cruelties and put him to shame at last, which made him dread and fear that he would be yet more dishonorably put to the blush by the rest. Lastly, within our own recollection, did not Valens the Arian, brother of the foresaid Valentinian, waste the Catholic Church by great persecution throughout the East? But how unreasonable it is not to consider that the Church, which bears fruit and grows through the whole world, may suffer persecution from kings in some nations even when she does not suffer it in others! Perhaps, however, it was not to be reckoned a persecution when the king of the Goths, in Gothia itself, persecuted the Christians with wonderful cruelty, when there were none but Catholics there, of whom very many were crowned with martyrdom, as we have heard from certain brethren who had been there at that time as boys, and unhesitatingly called to mind that they had seen these things? And what took place in Persia of late? Was not persecution so hot against the Christians (if even yet it is allayed) that some of the fugitives from it came even to Roman towns? When I think of these and the like things, it does not seem to me that the number of persecutions with which the Church is to be tried can be definitely stated. But, on the other hand, it is no less rash to affirm that there will be some persecutions by kings besides that last one, about which no Christian is in doubt. Therefore we leave this undecided, supporting or refuting neither side of this question, but only restraining men from the audacious presumption of affirming either of them. '' None

15. Valerius Maximus, Memorable Deeds And Sayings, 1.7.3
Tagged with subjects: • Decius Mus, P.

Found in books: Eidinow and Driediger-Murphy (2019), Esther Eidinow, Ancient Divination and Experience, 89; Santangelo (2013), Roman Frugality: Modes of Moderation from the Archaic Age to the Early Empire and Beyond, 71

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1.7.3 Remarkable also was that dream, and clear in its outcome, which the two consuls P. Decius Mus and T. Manlius Torquatus dreamed, when they lay encamped not far from the foot of Mount Vesuvius, at the time of the Latin War, which was very fierce and dangerous. For a certain person foretold to both of them, that the Manes and Terra Mater claimed as their due the general of one side, and the whole army of the other side; but whichever general should assail the forces of the enemy, and devote himself as a victim for the good of his army, would obtain the victory. The entrails of the sacrifices confirmed this on the next morning to both consuls, who endeavoured either to expiate the misfortune, if it might be averted, or else resolved to undergo the decision of the gods. Therefore they agreed, that whichever wing should begin to give way, there the commander should with his own life appease the Fates; which while both undauntedly ventured to perform, Decius happened to be the person whom the gods required.'' None

16. Vergil, Aeneis, 1.731-1.734, 4.260-4.265, 10.270-10.277
Tagged with subjects: • Decius Magius

Found in books: Augoustakis (2014), Flavian Poetry and its Greek Past, 276, 277, 279; Verhagen (2022), Security and Credit in Roman Law: The Historical Evolution of Pignus and Hypotheca, 276, 277, 279

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1.731 Iuppiter, hospitibus nam te dare iura loquuntur, ^1.732 hunc laetum Tyriisque diem Troiaque profectis ^1.733 esse velis, nostrosque huius meminisse minores. ^1.734 Adsit laetitiae Bacchus dator, et bona Iuno; ^4.260 Aenean fundantem arces ac tecta novantem ^4.261 conspicit; atque illi stellatus iaspide fulva ^4.262 ensis erat, Tyrioque ardebat murice laena ^4.263 demissa ex umeris, dives quae munera Dido ^4.264 fecerat, et tenui telas discreverat auro. ^4.265 Continuo invadit: Tu nunc Karthaginis altae ^10.270 Ardet apex capiti cristisque a vertice flamma ^10.271 funditur et vastos umbo vomit aureus ignes: ^10.272 non secus ac liquida siquando nocte cometae ^10.273 sanguinei lugubre rubent aut Sirius ardor, ^10.274 ille sitim morbosque ferens mortalibus aegris, ^10.275 nascitur et laevo contristat lumine caelum. ^10.276 Haud tamen audaci Turno fiducia cessit ^10.277 litora praecipere et venientis pellere terra.'' None

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1.731 “O Queen, who hast authority of Jove ^1.732 to found this rising city, and subdue ^1.733 with righteous goverce its people proud, ^1.734 we wretched Trojans, blown from sea to sea, ^4.260 an equal number of vociferous tongues, ^4.261 foul, whispering lips, and ears, that catch at all. ' "^4.262 At night she spreads midway 'twixt earth and heaven " '^4.263 her pinions in the darkness, hissing loud, ' "^4.264 nor e'er to happy slumber gives her eyes: " '^4.265 but with the morn she takes her watchful throne ^10.270 oft snow-white plumes, and spurning earth he soared ^10.271 on high, and sped in music through the stars. ^10.272 His son with bands of youthful peers urged on ^10.273 a galley with a Centaur for its prow, ' "^10.274 which loomed high o'er the waves, and seemed to hurl " '^10.275 a huge stone at the water, as the keel ^10.276 ploughed through the deep. Next Ocnus summoned forth ^10.277 a war-host from his native shores, the son '' None

17. None, None, nan
Tagged with subjects: • Decius, ,persecution by • Decius, decree/persecution of • Decius, persecution by

Found in books: Bremmer (2017), Magic and Martyrs in Early Christianity: Collected Essays, 352; Dijkstra and Raschle (2020), Religious Violence in the Ancient World: From Classical Athens to Late Antiquity, 196; Moss (2012), Ancient Christian Martyrdom: Diverse Practices, Theologies, and Traditions, 73

Please note: the results are produced through a computerized process which may frequently lead to errors, both in incorrect tagging and in other issues. Please use with caution.
Due to load times, full text fetching is currently attempted for validated results only.
Full texts for Hebrew Bible and rabbinic texts is kindly supplied by Sefaria; for Greek and Latin texts, by Perseus Scaife, for the Quran, by Tanzil.net

For a list of book indices included, see here.

Tiresias: The Ancient Mediterranean Religions Source Database