Prisca (empress)

Aurelia Prisca (died 315) was the Empress of Rome (286–305) and wife of Emperor Diocletian.

For other uses, see Priscilla.
Prisca
Nobilissima Femina
Relief in the mausoleum of Diocletian's Palace in Split, believed to depict Prisca.
Empress of the Roman Empire
Tenure284–305 (alongside Magnia Urbica 284–285 and Eutropia 286–305)
Bornc. May 247
Unknown
Died8 July 315
Salonika
SpouseDiocletian
IssueValeria
ReligionUncertain, possibly Christian
Historical reenactors at Diocletian's Palace; actors playing Diocletian and Prisca are at centre.
Spolium from a temple to Jupiter, giving Prisca's nomen and title ("most noble lady Aurelia Prisca").[1]

According to the Latin writer Lactantius, Prisca and her daughter Valeria were "forced to be polluted" by sacrificing to the Roman gods during the Great Persecution of 303.[2] Lactantius is, perhaps, implying that Prisca and Valeria were Christian or favorably disposed to Christianity.[3]

When Diocletian retired to Spalatum in 305, Prisca stayed with her daughter, Galeria Valeria and son-in-law, Galerius in Thessalonica. When Galerius died in 311, Licinius was entrusted with the care of Prisca and her daughter Valeria. The two women, however, fled from Licinius to Maximinus Daia. After a short time, Valeria refused the marriage proposal of Maximinus, who arrested and confined her in Syria and confiscated her properties. At the death of Maximinus, Licinius had Prisca and her daughter killed.

See also

References
  1. Jeličić-Radonić, Jasna (August 15, 2008). "AVRELIA PRISCA". Prilozi povijesti umjetnosti u Dalmaciji. 41 (1): 5–25 – via hrcak.srce.hr.
  2. Lactantius, De mortibus persecutorum 15,1.
  3. "Roman Emperors". Roman Emperors. June 20, 2023.
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