apostolicfathers0201clem - Carmel Apologetics

492 EPISTLE OF S. POLYCARP.
letter mentions deKdr'^s ye/MivotppePTTjo-lq., as it is corruptly written in the MSS. The
tenth was a double legion,
or rather two legions (Dion Cass. Iv. 23 ot UKaroi eKarepoi,
o'L re iv rrj Tlavvovlq, ry dvo) ol 8i8vfxoL Kal ol iv called 'Ioi;5ciii;i), respectively Geniina and
Fretensis. There can therefore be no doubt that the corrupt Greek represents
'decima Gemina et Fretensis.' The name ' Gemina' or Twin ' ' is the designation of
several legions (the viith, xth, xiiith, xivth), which were or had been twofold; and
Otto here (I know not for what reason) singles out the xivth. Both x Gemina and
XIV Gemina were stationed in Pannonia Superior, so that either might easily have
been employed in this war. The other xth legion, Fretensis, was quartered in Judsea.
If therefore it took any part in this war, it must, like Fulminata, have been transferred
to those parts temporarily for the purpose.
I am disposed to think that there was some truth in the Christian account of the
incident. Claudius Apollinaris, who first mentions it, addressed his Apology to
M. Aurelius, and therefore must have written within six years of the event at the outside.
He is therefore entitled to credit as the most strictly contemporary of all known
authorities. He could hardly have placed the Legio Fulminata in Germany, when its
head quarters were well known to be in the East, unless it had actually been sent
thither. There is
nothing improbable in its transference, such removals being common
in time of war. Thus in Tac. Atm. xv. 25, 26 we have a notice of the transmission of
several legions from great distances to the seat of war. But a legion stationed in
Melitene would naturally contain a very appreciable proportion of Christians, as it
must have drawn recruits from districts where Christianity was exceptionally strong at
a very early age. If the drought were oppressive, these Christians would probably
pray for rain. Here then we have the true elements in the story. On the other
hand the request of the emperor to the Christians for their special prayers and his
subsequent acknowledgement of their efficacy are doubtless a fictitious garnish with
which the enthusiasm of the early Christians decked out the simple fact.
(/8) Letter to Euxeiiiaius.
'AvTCOvtvos AvTOKpdrwp 2e/5acrTos Ev^evtava) IIoTrXt'wvt ^(aipav. 'Eyo)
et Tretpav tt/s o"i^S ay^tvotas epyot ai;TOts Karacrra, koI jU.aA,io"Ta ois
eFay;;^os Trpocrrafet tov rjjxiTepov Kpa.Tovt(ras S/xv/ovatots rrjv iK tov kX.ovov rr/s y^s eTriyevofxivrjv avrots
(TVfji