Was Perpetua the first female martyr

She chose to go through suffering.Perpetua, a young christian in the african city of carthage, was nearing the end of the time of training that every new believer received.Perpetua's friends were questioned first, and each in turn admitted to being a christian, and.After all, a female martyr leading a group and receiving visions would have seriously challenged the patriarchal dynamics at play in the early church.The young gladiator who was to execute saint perpetua was inexperienced and did not kill her with the first blow.In carthage, north africa, along with other noble martyrs whose names are preserved in the same account.

They were put to death in the amphitheatre in.The inclusion of perpetua and felicitas adds that universality to the specific group of female martyrs as well both in terms of their nationality and of their states in life.After being tossed to the ground by the heifer, the two women were led out of the arena.Such courage made a mark on the romans.Perpetua had just become a mother and st.Perpetua was an educated woman, fluent in latin and greek.

To be with christ, her friend.Saturus was bitten by a leopard, but did not die.