Ascla was one of the many martyrs in the persecutions under DIOCLETIAN (feast day: 21 Tūbah). His Passion has survived in Coptic in only one codex, in Sahidic dialect (Turin, Museum Egizio, 63000.XV, ed. F. Rossi, 1892, pp. 65-69), but it is also known in Greek and Latin (Bibliotheca hagiographica Graeca 1514, Bibliotheca hagiographica Latina 722).
It begins with Ascla's capture and his appearance before ARIANUS, prefect of the Thebaid. Arianus orders him to make sacrifice, and Ascla refuses. This is followed by the usual exchange of words, and then Arianus decides to leave Antinoopolis with Ascla and travel to Shmun. Ascla miraculously stops the ship in mid-river and forces Arianus to abjure in order for the ship to be able to lay anchor. However, once he has landed, Arianus goes back on his words, tortures Ascla, and orders that he be drowned in the river near Antinoopolis.
This text is one of the basic ones of the Cycle of Arianus.
Tito Orlandi
Note: The DACB uses the transliteration system of the Encyclopedia of Islam (2nd ed.), dropping the diacritical marks on the kha, dtaa, saad, and daad.
Bibliography:
Baumeister, T. Martyr Invictus. Der Märtyrer als Sinnbild der Erlösung in der Legende und im Kult der frühen koptischen Kirche. Münster, 1972.
Rossi, F. Un nuovo codice copto del Museo Egiziodi Torino. Atti Accademia dei Lincei series 5, 1 (1892):3-136.
