ON SAINTS SILVANUS OR SALVIANUS, ASAIACUS OR AIARICUS, DONATA, AND QUINTA, MARTYRS AT ROME ON THE VIA NOMENTANA.
CommentarySilvanus or Salvianus, Martyr at Rome on the Via Nomentana (St.)
Asaiacus or Aiaricus, Martyr at Rome on the Via Nomentana (St.)
Donata, Martyr at Rome on the Via Nomentana (St.)
Quinta, Martyr at Rome on the Via Nomentana (St.)
By G. H.
The Via Nomentana, named so because it stretched to Nomentum, an ancient town of the Sabines, was once celebrated both for the various monuments of the pagan Romans and for the various cemeteries of the Christian Martyrs constructed along it. The Vatican manuscript of the basilica of Saint Peter, from which and from others we have published the genuine Martyrology of Bede, whose name it bore, has these words on this day: "The 12th day before the Kalends of May, at Rome, the deposition of Saint Victor the Bishop, Felix, Alexander," of whom we have spoken above. "And in the cemetery of the Martyrs, beside the Via Nomentana, of Salvianus, Aragacus." The same from the said manuscript Paolo Aringhi cites, book 4 of his Roma Subterranea, chapter 26. The Cassinese and Altemps manuscripts supply this: "In the cemetery of the Martyrs, beside the Via Nomentana, of Aralarus, Donata." Which thus reads in the manuscript of the Vatican library marked number 5949: "At Rome, on the Via Numentana, of Saints Aralacus and Donata." In the Roman manuscript of Cardinal Barberini, three Martyrs are indicated: "In the cemetery on the Via Numentana, the natal day of Saints Silvanus, Aiaracus, Donata." Which in the most ancient Epternach copy of the Hieronymian martyrology is written thus: "Likewise at Rome, of Silvanus, Asajacus, Donata." The Lucca manuscript gives this: "In the military cemetery on the Via Montana, the natal day of Saints Silvianus, Aiaricus." In the Blumian codex: "On the Via Momentana, the natal day of Saints Salvianus and Aiaricus." In the Corbie manuscript printed at Paris, no mention being made of places, the names are indicated: "Silvianus, Tiaracus, Donatus, Quintus." Behold how great is the diversity in all. The Via Nomentana, or Numentana, is wrongly called Momentana and Montana. The Cemetery of the Martyrs, or called the Military, because there very many were endowed with the crown of martyrdom, and among them Papias and Maurus the soldiers excelled. The first of the Martyrs is called Silvanus, Silvianus, and even Salvianus. The second is written with the greatest variety: Aiaracus, Alaracus, Aiaricus, Aragacus, and Asajacus. In the third place is generally Donata, and once Donatus is found. In the fourth place, in the single Corbie manuscript, Quintus is added. Of these, in the Augsburg manuscript of Saint Ulric are mentioned Ageracius, Salvianus, Donatus. The first of these in the Parisian manuscript of Labbé is called Aiaracus; to the other two the same name is assigned. Donatus is referred to above among the African Martyrs, whence his name was easily transcribed here for Donata.