Besamon was a saint and martyr of the Basilidian cycle. Of his Passion there is only one Sahidic fragment left, which can be set at the beginning of the work (Till, 1935, pp. 42-48). The text begins with the advice to DIOCLETIAN to begin the persecution. The advice is accepted and Diocletian proclaims his famous edict. A boy named Besamon, son of the general Basilides comes in and, ripping his clothes off, goes to the emperor to reproach him and to confess himself a faithful Christian. The text ends here. It is odd that Besamon is not mentioned in the other Passions belonging to the same Basilidian cycle.
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:
Till, W. C. Koptische Heiligen- und Martyrerlegenden, Vol. 1. Orientalia Christiana Analecta 102. Rome, 1935.
