Narcissus (wrestler)
Narcissus (born 2nd century C.E.) 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[]
He is best known to history as the assassin of the Roman Emperor Commodus, by whom he was employed as a wrestling partner[2][3] and personal trainer in order to train Commodus for his self-indulgent appearances in the Colosseum as a gladiator.
In 192 AD, 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 AD, 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[]
- ^ a b c Cassius Dio, Roman History, Book LXXII, pg. 117.
- ^ a b c Lampridius, Historia Augusta. "Life of Commodus," pg. 306.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ Wasson, David L. "Commodus". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
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