
The places marked on the map above indicate sites of martyrdoms
according to ancient Christian and Roman texts. As you ponder the map,
consider the vast geographic spread of these martyr accounts (from
Antioch to Lyons) and the chronological span they cover (more than a
century). Even if we give credence to these martyr accounts, the odds
were very low that any Christians would have witnessed the public
execution and torture of their fellow Christians. Yet the odds were
much higher than they would
have seen public, state-sponsored acts of violence (especially when you
consider most major cities on the map had amphitheatres where public
games were held) and heard stories of Christian martyrdom.