The Martyrdom of Apollonius: The Christian's and the Judge's Rhetorical Strategies
The article deals with the rhetorical strategies of the Christian Apollonius and the prefectus pretorii Perennius in the «Martyrdom of Apollonius» (BHG 149; BHO 79). The prefect and the martyr clearly go beyond the role model of «judge - accused». A significant role here was played by the factors about which we are not informed: the social status of the opponents, their education, the audience before which the martyr delivered his second speech, and the relationship between this audience and Apollonius and Perennius (it is likely that many listeners were acquainted with both martyr and prefect). The two parties had the beforehand prepared plans of action that they were fulfilling.