Ad Nationes — Book 1, Chapter 14

2

In ista civitate, Rome.

3

This is explained in the passage of The Apology (xvi.): “He had for money exposed himself with criminals to fight with wild beasts.”

4

Decutiendus, from a jocular word, “decutire.”

5

This curious word is compounded of ὅνος, an ass, and κοιᾶσθαι, which Hesychius explains by ἰερᾶσθαι, to act as a priest. The word therefore means, “asinarius sacerdos,” “an ass of a priest.” Calumnious enough; but suited to the vile occasion, and illustrative of the ribald opposition which Christianity had to encounter.

6

We take Rigaltius’ reading, “seminarium.”

7

Tanquam hesternum.

Book 1 · Chapter 14

Chapter XIV.—The Vile Calumny About Onocoetes Retorted on the Heathen by Tertullian.

Notes