who lived at a
period not far from the Apostolic age, writing a History of all
ecclesiastical events from the passion of our Lord, down to his own
period, and gathering many things useful to the reader, composed five
volumes in simple style, trying to represent the style of speaking of
those whose lives he treated. He says that he went to Rome in the time
of Anicetus, the tenth bishop after Peter, and continued there till the
time of Eleutherius, bishop of the same city, who had been formerly
deacon under Anicetus. Moreover, arguing against idols, he wrote a
history, showing from what error they had first arisen, and this work
indicates in what age he flourished. He says, “They built monuments and temples to their dead as we see up to the present day, such as the one to Antinous, servant to the Emperor Hadrian, in whose honour also games were celebrated, and a city founded bearing his name, and a temple with priests established.” The Emperor Hadrian is said to have been enamoured of Antinous.