Historia Augusta

Sacra Mithriaca homicidio vero polluit, cum illic aliquid ad speciem timoris vel dici vel fingi soleat.

He [Commodus] desecrated the rites of Mithras with actual murder, although it was customary in them merely to say or pretend something that would produce an impression of terror.

Translated by David Magie, 2022

With his club he struck down not only the lions masquerading in woman’s clothing and a lion’s skin but even many men. Halt and lame men he dressed up as giants, so that covered with rags from the knees downwards they crept along like serpents, and transfixed them with arrows. The shrines of Mithra he defiled with human blood judging that in this way he would terrorise by deed as well as by word.

Translated by A. S. Geden, 1925