Besamon, Saint

besamon, saint, a martyr of the Basilidian cycle. Of his Passion there is only one Sahidic fragment left, which can be set at the beginning of the work (Till, 1935, pp. 42-48). The text begins with the advice to diocletian to begin the persecution. The advice is accepted and Diocletian proclaims his famous edict. A boy named Besamon, son of the general basilides, comes in and, ripping his clothes off, goes to the emperor to reproach him and to confess himself a faithful Christian. The text ends here. It is odd that Besamon is not mentioned in the other Passions belonging to the same Basilidian cycle.