Sextus Julius Africanus

• Sextus Julius Africanus (c.160-c.240 CE) was a Christian traveller and historian who’s works had enormous influence on early Christian History.
• He accompanied Septimius Severus on his campaign in 195 CE. In 220 CE he was Prefect of Emmaus-Nicopolis in Judaea. In c.224, whilst in Rome, he organised the Public Library founded by Severus Alexander in the Pantheon.

Biography

• He appears to have lived in Emmaus Nicopolis, near Jerusalem in Judaea
• He influenced the writings of Eusebius on early Christian Church History.
• Africanus may have been a Christian Priest himself.

Works

• ‘Chronographiai’ (The Histories)
  • Five Books covering history from The Creation in 5,501 BCE to 221 CE.
  • No longer extant but extracts found in Chronicon of Eusebius.
  • He gives a date for the Creation as 5,501 BCE, and the date for the birth of Jesus Christ as March 25, 1 BCE.

• ‘Kestoi’ (Embroideries)
  • An Encyclopaedia in 24 Books which he may also have written, but it is not confirmed.
  • ‘Kestoi’ contains Natural History, Medicine, Agriculture, Magic and Military Science.
  • No longer extant, but some parts were preserved in the Oxyrhynchus papyri found in Egypt in the 19th century CE.