Ammianus Marcellinus and bishop Eusebius of Emesa

Abstract

Ammianus Marcellinus preserves the most detailed account of the alleged misdeeds of Gallus Caesar at Antioch which led to his removal and execution by the emperor Constantius II (337-61) in late 354.1 Among other things, Gallus incited the troops against the praetorian prefect Domitianus and the quaestor Montius because he believed that they were plotting against him. As he was being torn apart by the enraged troops, Montius cried out in complaint against a certain Epigonus and Eusebius, but without specifying their profession or rank. This resulted in the immediate arrest of a philosopher from Cilicia by the name of Epigonus and an orator from Emesa by the name of Eusebius, surnamed Pittacas. Both were severely tortured, and although Epigonus quickly confessed to his involvement in a plot against Gallus, Eusebius stoutly maintained his innocence of all such charges. Indeed, Ammianus emphasizes the innocence of both accused, and maintains that Montius had actually referred to two tribunes in charge of weapons manufacture who had promised weapons in case of a revolt. Nevertheless, Gallus had both philosopher and orator executed. Unfortunately, no other source tells us anything more about Eusebius Pittacas. Nonetheless, he has sometimes been identified with a sophist by the name of Eusebius the Arabian who was a rival of Ulpianus.2 The latter taught during the reign of Constantine I (306-37), first at Emesa, then at Antioch where he taught the Christian sophist Prohaeresius (c.276-368).3 Yet this