The final commission of Artemius the former dux-Aegypti

It is normally assumed that Artemius was dux Aegypti at the time of his mar tyrdom at Antioch on 20 October 362. The present paper argues that Constant ius II had actually promoted him as his magister equitum per Orientem about a year beforehand, just before his own death. In accordance with his anti- Christian bias, however, Ammianus Marcellinus conceals this fact in order t o create a false association between Artemius and the disreputable bishop G eorge of Alexandria, attacking not only the cult of martyrs in general but that of Artemius at Antioch in particular.