Justin’s Address to the Emperor

“To the Emperor Titus Aelius Hadrian Antoninus Pius Caesar Augustus; to Verissimus his son, the philosopher; to Lucius, natural son of Caesar the philosopher and adopted son of Pius, a lover of learning; to the sacred senate and to the whole Roman people: on behalf of those of every race of men who are unjustly hated and mistreated, I, Justin, son of Priscus, son of Bacchius, of Flavia Neapolis in Syrian Palestine, myself one of them, have made this address and petition.” The same emperor was petitioned also by other brothers in Asia, who were being worn down by every kind of outrage from the local populace, and he thought fit to address the following ordinance to the Council of Asia. [a]