Maternus Cynegius

Maternus Cynegius (died 14 March 388) was a high official in the late Roman Empire. He served as praetorian prefect of the East and consul, and is best known for destroying some of the most sacred sites of the Hellenistic religion during the persecution of pagans.[1]

Cynegius is thought to have been born in Hispania and was a Christian. Sometime between 381 and 383 he was appointed comes sacrarum largitionum, the imperial treasurer, by Emperor Theodosius I.[2] Later he was appointed quaestor sacri palatii and in 384 praetorian prefect of the East.[3] He issued laws that forbade pagan sacrifices and closed and destroyed non-Christian temples in Egypt and Syria (386). Deviating from Theodosius' policy, he also issued anti-Jewish laws.[4]

On his second visitation to the East (including Egypt) he was accompanied by Bishop Marcellus of Apamea. With Marcellus' encouragement, he destroyed, among other things:

• One of the temples in Edessa (or possibly the lunar temple in Carrhae);[5]
• the Temple of Zeus Belos in Apamea, which included a famed oracle that Septimius Severus, among others, had consulted;
• the Temple of Al-Lat in Palmyra.[6]

In 388 he was appointed consul, though he died that same year in Berytos.

Cynegius has been identified with the high official who received the Missorium of Theodosius I and was probably depicted on it. A country house found by archaeologists near Carranque in Spain has been attributed to Cynegius.[7]