Note 96 — Chapter IX · THE EUPHRATES FRONTIER AND THE PARTHIANS. (continued 2)
William P. (William Purdie) Dickson translation
The better accounts simply know the fact that Valerian died in Persian captivity. That Sapor used him as a footstool in mounting his horse (Lactantius, de Mort. persec. 5; Orosius, vii. 22, 4; Victor, Ep. 33), and finally caused him to be flayed (Lactantius, l. c.; Agathias, iv. 23; Cedrenus, p. 454) is a Christian invention—a requital for the persecution of the Christians ordered by Valerian.