Epaphroditus (freedman of Nero)

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Museo Epigrafico
, Rome

Tiberius Claudius Epaphroditus or Epaphroditos (

Roman Emperor Nero. He was later executed by Domitian
for failing to prevent Nero's suicide.

Name

His name originates from the Greek language and means "lovely, charming" combined with the name Aphrodite. This is preceded by the Greek preposition 'ep' which simply means 'for' thus indicating that this man was named with the intention of his life being dedicated to or for the Greek goddess Aphrodite.[1] The Romans often gave slaves of Greek origins illustrious names from Greek mythology and culture, for example Claudius's freedman Narcissus, Nero's freedman Polyclitus and Antonia Minor's freedwoman Caenis.

Life

It is not known for certain who Epaphroditus' master was, but it is likely that he was freed by the Emperor Claudius (41–54). Because freedmen usually accepted the name of their former master, as an Imperial freedman, the official name of Epaphroditus would have probably been Tiberius Claudius Epaphroditus, to which Augusti libertus ("freedman of the emperor") could be added, if he was indeed emancipated by Claudius.[2]

Epaphroditus was an Imperial freedman and secretary (

Imperial Family, but his specific duties are not mentioned.[a]

According to Tacitus, Epaphroditus learned in 65 AD that a group led by the senator Gaius Calpurnius Piso had organized a coup. Epaphroditus immediately reported it to the Emperor and Piso and his fellow conspirators were arrested. After the conspirators had been executed Epaphroditus received military honours. He was now a wealthy man and owned the Horti Epaphroditiani, large villa-gardens on the Esquiline Hill, east of the Domus Aurea ("Golden House"), which Nero had started to construct after the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD.[2]

During the later conspiracy which did put an end to Nero's rule, Epaphroditus accompanied his master in his flight. When Nero attempted to kill himself (9 June 68 AD), Epaphroditus assisted him.[3][4]

For rendering this assistance to Nero, however, Epaphroditus had afterwards to pay with his own life: Domitian first banished and afterwards ordered Epaphroditus to be put to death (c. 95 AD), because he had not exerted himself to save the life of Nero.[5][6][7] It is likely that this execution is one of the main reasons that, about a year later, Domitian was assassinated by court officials.

Epaphroditus was the owner of

Musonius Rufus.[8][9]

The man named Epaphroditus to whom

Footnotes

  1. ^ Epaphroditus was called a viator tribunicius, hence he must have served someone with the powers of a Tribune, and at that time that could only have been the Emperor.[2]
  2. procurator" of Emperor Trajan.[10]
  3. Paul's own close associate 'Epaphroditus', by whom he "sends greetings" ... "especially to those in Caesar's household". (Phil. 2:25 and 4:18)[11] "It would be difficult to conceive that this Epaphroditus could be anyone other than Nero's own secretary by that name, later blamed by Domitian for killing or (at least) helping Nero to kill himself."[12]
  4. ^ "From all these persons of the name of Epaphroditus, we must distinguish the one whom the Apostle Paul mentions as his companion."[10]

References

  1. ^ Behind the Name: Meaning, Origin and History of the Name Epaphroditos
  2. ^ a b c "Tiberius Claudius Epaphroditus". livius.org. Archived from the original on 2014-08-02. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  3. . Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  4. . Retrieved 2013-10-28.
  5. ^ Tacitus. Annals. xv. 55.
  6. ^ Suetonius. "Life of Nero". De vita Caesarum [The Twelve Caesars]. 49;
    "Life of Domitian". De vita Caesarum [The Twelve Caesars]. 14.
  7. Dio Cassius
    . Ῥωμαϊκὴ Ἱστορία [Historia Romana / Roman History]. lxiii. 27, 29; lxvii. 14.
  8. ^ Epictetus. Discourses. i. 26.
  9. ^ "Επίκτητος". Suda.
  10. ^ a b Schmitz, Leonhard (1867). "Epaphroditus". In Smith, William (ed.). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. Vol. 2. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company. p. 24. Archived from the original on 2009-06-20.
  11. ^ . ii. 25; iv. 18.
  12. ^ Eisenman, Robert. James the Brother of Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls. p. 192.[full citation needed]

Sources

External links