Narcissus (wrestler)

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Narcissus (born 2nd century A.D.) was a Roman athlete, [1] [2] likely a wrestler, [3] from the 2nd century AD. He assassinated the Roman emperor Commodus in 192 AD.

Contents

Life and work

Narcissus was employed as a wrestling partner and personal trainer to Commodus in order to train him for his self-indulgent appearances in the Colosseum as a gladiator. [2] [3]

In AD 192, several senators, led by Praetorian prefect Quintus Aemilius Laetus, recruited Narcissus to assassinate the emperor after a previous failed attempt by the conspirators.

On 31 December 192, Commodus's concubine [2] and conspirator Marcia poisoned Commodus's wine. The poison failed, so Narcissus entered Commodus's bedchamber. [4] Commodus was supposedly in a drunken stupor after Marcia had poisoned him [1] and Narcissus proceeded to strangle Commodus in his bathtub [1] or, according to Herodian, in his bed. [3]

Death

Narcissus was executed during the series of civil wars after Commodus's death. [5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Cassius Dio, Roman History, Book LXXII, pg. 117.
  2. 1 2 3 Lampridius, Historia Augusta. "Life of Commodus," pg. 306.
  3. 1 2 3 Herodian of Antioch, History of the Roman Empire from the Death of Marcus Aurelius to the Accession of Gordian III, I.i.; Gibbon, Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, 1.4.
  4. ↑ Wasson, David L. (29 August 2013). "Commodus". World History Encyclopedia . Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  5. ↑ Bunson, Matthew (1995). A Dictionary of the Roman Empire. Oup USA. ISBN   978-0-19-510233-8.
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