Avidius Cassius

Roman Emperors

Avidius Cassius was the son of a prefect who had probably been born in Alexandria, and was proclaimed emperor in 175, which was stimulated by what turned out to be false rumors of the death of Marcus Aurelius. He was only recognized in Egypt for three months, and his rashness promoted the famous Athenian sophist and millionaire, Herodes Atticus: 'Herodes to Cassius. You have gone mad.' Avidius had seen action in Egypt a few years earlier when he had been sent to quell a mysterious uprising in the delta known as the revolt of Boukoloi.