Narcissus_(murderer)

Narcissus (wrestler)

Narcissus (wrestler)

Roman wrestler and assassin of Emperor Commodus

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.

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 his master in his bathtub[1] or, according to Herodian, in his bed.[3]

Death

Narcissus died by execution during the series of civil wars after Commodus's death.

References

  1. [1]
    Cassius Dio, Roman History, Book LXXII, pg. 117.
  2. [2]
    Lampridius, Historia Augusta. "Life of Commodus," pg. 306.
  3. [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. [4]
    Wasson, David L. "Commodus". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
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