Firmus

According to the Historia Augusta, Firmus (died 273) was a usurper of Syrian origin during the reign of Aurelian.^[1] The contradictory accounts of his life and the man himself are considered to be a complete fabrication, perhaps based on the later Firmus.^[2]

According to the Historia Augusta ("Firmus"), Firmus was a man of great wealth. He had his house fitted with square panels of glass, and owned a huge library. His commercial relationships involved Blemmyes, Saracens, and India. He had two elephant tusks, which later Aurelian projected to use as a basis for a statue to Jupiter and which were actually given as a present by Carinus. Physically, Firmus was noteworthy, being huge and very strong. Firmus was notably also a heavy drinker and could eat quite a bit. The Historia Augusta states that he once consumed an entire ostrich in one day, and even beat one of Aurelian's standard bearers and notorious drinkers in a drinking contest, draining two buckets of wine while remaining completely sober. The importance and threat of Firmus' revolt is related to the interruption of the Egyptian grain supply to Rome.

• "Firmus Saturninus Proclus et Bonosus" 3-6, Historia Augusta
• "Aurelianus" xxxii.2‑3, Historia Augusta
• Zosimus i.61.1

• "Firmus", s.v. "Aurelian", De Imperatoribus Romanis site