Hierocles
HIEROCLES, proconsul of Bithynia and Alexandria, lived during the reign of Diocletian (A.D. 284-305). He is said to have been the instigator of the fierce persecution of the Christians under Galerius in 303. He was the author of a work (not extant) entitled \6yoi 0tXaXi70s Trpos TOUS XpiOTiaPovs in two books, in which he endeavoured to persuade the Christians that their sacred books were full of contradictions, and that in moral influence and miraculous power Christ was inferior to Apollonius of Tyana. Our knowledge of this treatise is derived from Lactantius (Instil, diii. v. 2) and Eusebius, who wrote a refutation entitled 'AvTipprjriKos irpos TO. 'IepoK\tovs.
Note - this article incorporates content from Encyclopaedia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, (1910-1911)
