Nothing certain can be deduced as to the date or manner of Agnes’ death. It was traditionally thought to be about 304 during the Diocletian persecution, but more recent studies suggest a date about 350. She was one of the most famous and widely-celebrated early martyrs of Rome. Her veneration as a martyr points to the growing cult of virginity that was developing in the early church.

The earliest witness to her is the Depositio Martyrum of 354. About the same time, a shrine was built over her grave on the Via Nomentana in Rome. The Acts written in the 5th century, which tell her story, describe her as a devout girl of 13 years old, who refused marriage because of her dedication to Christ. She preferred death to any violation of her consecrated virginity.

Many legends and stories developed round Agnes, none of them of historical value. Agnes’ principal emblem is a lamb, probably because of the resemblance of her name to the Latin word for “lamb” (agnus). Pope Honorius (625-638) erected a basilica in place of the older shrine, and people still visit Agnes’ tomb and the surrounding catacomb beneath the basilica.

BORN: c.291, Rome, Italy.

DIED: c.304, Rome, Italy.