Potamiæna.
1. may be counted the seventh of these. He led to martyrdom the celebrated Potamiæna, who is still famous among the people of the country for the many things which she endured for the preservation of her chastity and virginity. For she was blooming in the perfection of her mind and her physical graces. Having suffered much for the faith of Christ, finally after tortures dreadful and terrible to speak of, she with her mother, Marcella, was put to death by fire.
2. They say that the judge, Aquila by name, having inflicted severe tortures upon her entire body, at last threatened to hand her over to the gladiators for bodily abuse. After a little consideration, being asked for her decision, she made a reply which was regarded as impious.
3. Thereupon she received
sentence immediately, and Basilides, one of the officers of the army, led her to death. But as the people attempted to annoy and insult her with abusive words, he drove back her insulters, showing her much pity and kindness. And perceiving the man’s sympathy for her, she exhorted him to be of good courage, for she would supplicate her Lord for him after her departure, and he would soon receive a reward for the kindness he had shown her.
4. Having said this, she nobly
sustained the issue, burning pitch being poured little by little, over
various parts of her body, from the sole of her feet to the crown of
her head. Such was the conflict endured by this famous
maiden.
5. Not long after this
Basilides, being asked by his fellow-soldiers to swear for a certain
reason, declared that it was not lawful for him to swear at all, for he
was a Christian, and he confessed this openly. At first they thought
that he was jesting, but when he continued to affirm it, he was led to
the judge, and, acknowledging his conviction before him, he was
imprisoned. But the brethren in God coming to him and inquiring the
reason of this sudden and remarkable resolution, he is reported to have
said that Potamiæna, for three days after her martyrdom, stood
beside him by night and placed a crown on his head and said that she
had besought the Lord for him and had obtained what she asked, and that
soon she would take him with her.
6. Thereupon the brethren gave
him the seal of the Lord; and on the next day, after giving glorious testimony for the Lord, he was beheaded. And many others in Alexandria are recorded to have accepted speedily the word of Christ in those times.
7. For Potamiæna appeared
to them in their dreams and exhorted them. But let this suffice in
regard to this matter.