RE: Six Degrees and Hopeless Habits - The Ink Well Fiction Writing Challenge #2 - Bad Habits
Of course I had to google it - how I hope the tortures are only legend, not truth -
Saints Victor and Corona are two Christian martyrs. Most sources state that they were killed in Roman Syria during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. .... Some Western sources state that Alexandria or Sicily was their place of martyrdom. ... the Roman Martyrology states that it was in the third century when they met their death.
Victor was a Roman soldier of Italian ancestry, serving in the city of Damascus in Roman Syria during the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius. He was tortured - including having his eyes gouged out..... the sixteen-year-old spouse of one of his brothers-in-arms, named Corona,[3] comforted and encouraged him. For this, she was arrested and interrogated. According to the passio of Corona, which is considered largely fictional, Corona was bound to two bent palm trees and torn apart as the trunks were released.
Victor was beheaded in Damascus in 160 AD.
Other sources state that they were husband and wife.
Saint Corona was popular in folk treasure magic, being called upon by a treasure hunter to bring treasure, and then sent away through a similarly elaborate ritual.
Wikipedia
The version I read had her as the spouse of one of his compatriots. Victor is also the name of my nephew, so that's close to my heart, though anyone who tried to take him out would have some hard going ahead, Roman soldier or no. ;-)