Maternus Cynegius
Maternus Cynegius († 388 in Berytos ) was a Praetorian prefect and consul at the end of the 4th century.
Cynegius may have come from Spain and was a Christian . In 383/384 he was comes sacrarum largitionum (Minister of Finance or Treasurer) under Emperor Theodosius I. Theodosius appointed Cynegius as Praetorian Prefect of the Orient in 384 with the order to destroy the non-Christian temples in Egypt, Greece and Asia Minor. During his first trip through Egypt, he closed the temples and forbade sacrifices. He also passed many laws which, contrary to Theodosius' policy, show anti-Jewish tendencies.
During his second trip to the east (including Egypt), accompanied by Bishop Marcellus of Apamea , Cynegius closed and destroyed Hellenic temples, shrines and altars, including the temple of Edessa, the Kabeirion of Imbros , the temple of Zeus in Apamea, the Temple of Apollo in Didyma and all temples of Palmyra .
In 388 he held the consulate with Emperor Theodosius I.
literature
- Arnold Hugh Martin Jones , John Robert Martindale, John Morris : Maternus Cynegius 3. In: The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire (PLRE). Volume 1, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1971, ISBN 0-521-07233-6 , pp. 235-236.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Maternus Cynegius |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Cynegius |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Roman Praetorian prefect and consul |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 4th century |
| DATE OF DEATH | 388 |
| Place of death | Berytos |