The Beginning of the Great Persecution of Christians in AD 303 as recounted by Firmianus Lactantius

The Great Persecution of Christians began in February of AD 303 during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian and his Caesar, Galerius. This account of events leading up to the Great Persecution may be found in an ancient work by Firmianus Lactantius entitled, "On the Deaths of the Persecutors." More information about the English translation of this work this work may be found here: http://www.evolpub.com/CRE/CREseries.html#CRE14

Works of art depicted in this video include:

0:27 - Statue group known as The Four Tetrarchs, thought to depict Diocletian, Maximian, Galerius and Constantius I. From St. Mark's Square, Venice. Early 4th century AD.
0:44 - Detail from the Arch of Galerius showing Galerius offering sacrifice. Thessaloniki, Greece. Early 4th century AD.
1:04 - Detail from the Decennalia Monument of the Tetrarchy in Rome, showing one of the tetrarchs offering sacrifice, ca. AD 303.
1:26 - Marble head of Diocletian, late 3rd or early 4th century AD.
1:53 - Porphyry bust thought to be of Galerius from Egypt, early 4th century AD.
2:14 - Bronze follis of Galeria Valeria, daughter of Diocletian and wife of Galerius, early 4th century AD. the name of Galerius's mother is unknown.
2:41 - Bronze nummus of Galerius, early 4th century AD.
2:53 - Marble relief of Diocletian and Maximian embracing, Nicomedia, late 3rd/early 4th century AD.
3:11 - Silver Argenteus of Diocletian minted at Rome, showing the four tetrarchs on the reverse, late 3rd century AD.
3:31 - Detail from the Arch of Galerius showing Galerius making war on the Persians. Thessaloniki, Greece. Early 4th century AD.
4:00 - Fresco of Tetrarchic-era soldiers and officials at Luxor, Egypt. Late 3rd century AD.
4:39 - Ruins of the Temple of Apollo at Miletus, originally constructed in the 4th century BC.
5:00 - Bronze nummus of Diocletian, late 3rd/early 4th century AD.
5:15 - Porphyry head of Galerius, early 4th century AD.
5:35 - Two Tetrarchs in porphyry, early 4th century AD.
6:03 - Engraving of a pagan mob attacking a Christian, mid-19th century AD.
6:25 - Engraving of the destruction of the Great Church at Nicomedia, mid-19th century AD.
7:02 - Bust of Galerius from a roundel in the so-called "Little Arch of Galerius" at Thessaloniki, Greece. Early 4th century AD.
7:29 - Martyrdom of St. Lawrence by Jean-Baptiste de Champaigne, ca. AD 1660.

The accompanying music is from the South Korean historical drama entitled Gye Baek, which is well worth watching.

We claim no rights to the artworks and photos listed above nor to the music.