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Syndexios

Valerius Florus

Governor of Numidia in 303, vir perfectissimus Valerius Florus was a well-known persecutor of Christians.

  • Altar by Florus from Lambaesis

    Altar by Florus from Lambaesis
    EDCS 

  • Plan of the Mithraeum of Lambèse.

    Plan of the Mithraeum of Lambèse.
    Marcel Le Glay 

  • Plan of the Mithraeum of Lambèse.

    Plan of the Mithraeum of Lambèse.
    Marcel Le Glay 

Biography
of Valerius Florus

TNMP 269

Governor of Numidia in 303, his authority extended over the Milev region, i.e. Numidia Cirtensis, and the plateau and limes region, probably including Tripolitania, i.e. Numidia M...

In Mdoukal, where the last mention of him was found, he is called praeses provinciae Numidiae. It is natural that in Timgad and especially in Lambaesis, the capital of the province, they wanted to be more precise. It is unfortunate, however, that the abbreviation N. M. does not solve the problem of the epithet Numidia: militaris for some, militiana for others.

It should come as no surprise that the persecutor of the Christians made a votum to Mithras, as the famous Rouffach inscription attests.


Alongside the aforementioned inscriptions from North Africa indicating support for the cult amongst the imperial government, we also have an inscription from the Lambaesis Mithraeum which refers to the governor of Numidia in AD 303, Valerius Florus. Given that this mithraeum was set next to a large fort, and earlier dedications indicate a close connection with soldiers stationed here, Florus’ dedication might also be seen in a similar light to those by the imperial government on the Danube, in an effort to maintain the loyalty of the soldiers stationed here.

The lack of any indication of Christian desecration at the Lambaesis Mithraeum is worth highlighting, as the governor who erected an altar to Mithras here in AD 303, Valerius Florus, was a known persecutor of the Christians. As such, one would expect this mithraeum to have attracted the anger of Christian iconoclasts perhaps more so than any other, yet there is nothing to suggest that it did. On Valerius Florus’ persecution of Christians, see CIL VIII 6700 = CIL VIII 19353.

CIL VIII 6700

Tertiu(m) idus Iunias deposi/tio cruoris sanctorum martrum / qui sunt passi sub pr(a)eside Floro in civ/itate Milevitana in diebus t(h)urifi/cationis inter quibus hic Innoc/[entius situs] est ipse in pace.
Thirteenth of June, the deposition of the blood of the holy martyrs, who suffered under the governor Florus in the city of Milevis, on the days of purification, among whom Innocentius lies here, himself in peace.

References

Mentions

Altar by Florus from Lambaesis

TNMM 779

This altar, found in Tazoult تازولت, Algeria, was dedicated to the god Sol Mithras by a certain Florus.

D(eo) S(oli) I(nvicto) M(ithrae) / Val(erius) Florus / v(ir) p(erfectissimus) p(raeses) p(rovinciae) N(umidiae) M(ilitianae) / ex voto / posuit.
To the god Sol Invictus Mithras, Valerius Florus, a most perfect man, governor of the province of Numidia Militiana, placed [this] in accordance with a vow.

Mithraeum of Lambaesis

TNMM 101

The Mithraeum of Tazoult / Lambèse is one of the best preserved Mithras’s temples in Africa.

Mithraeum of Lambaesis

TNMM 101

The Mithraeum of Tazoult / Lambèse is one of the best preserved Mithras’s temples in Africa.

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