One of Perpetua’s fellow prisoners, who died with her in the arena.

Passio Perpetuae: Perpetua and Felicitas in Latin

Q: Who wrote the Passio Perpetuae?

Perpetua’s own account is at its heart. Saturus adds an account of his own vision, and an anonymous narrator frames the whole and tells of the arena.

What it is

Perpetua’s prison narrative, with Saturus and an anonymous narrator.

Perpetua records her fears, her father’s repeated pleas, and her visions as she waits for execution. Saturus adds an account of his own vision, and an anonymous narrator describes the prisoners’ final ordeal in the arena.

Why it matters

One of the earliest Latin works associated with a woman’s voice.

It is among the earliest surviving Latin works associated with a woman’s own voice, and one of the most moving accounts of early Christian martyrdom.

What the Latin is like

Direct narrative and dream imagery.

The Latin is a direct prison narrative with vivid dream imagery. On LC’s difficulty scale it scores 5.4 (Intermediate). The reader text, about 3,500 words, comes from the Open Greek and Latin text, with macronized display text.

Acta Martyrum Scillitanorum — Anonymous

A short court record of Christians tried in North Africa, read in one sitting.

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