The Two Lovers of Heaven: Chrysanthus and Daria

Pedro Calderon de la Barca was a dramatist from the Spanish Golden Age, which occurred in the 1600's. Calderon was educated in a Jesuit college with plans to become a priest, but instead he studied law. Over two decades he wrote 70 secular plays for the commercial theatre. The Two Lovers of Heaven is a mystical drama. The martyrdom of Chrysanthus and Daria took place in Rome in 284 a. d. . According to legend, Chrysanthus was the only son of an Egyptian patrician named Polemius or Poleon. Chrysanthus became a Christian. His father tempted him with prostitutes and when he remained a virgin he arranged a marriage with Daria a Roman Vestal Virgin. He converted his wife and they lived in a chased state converting many people to Christianity. Chrysanthus was arrested and tortured. Chrysanthus' faith and fortitude under torture was so impressive to Claudius that he and his wife, Hilaria, two sons named Maurus and Jason, and seventy of his soldiers became Christians. For this betrayal, the emperor had Claudius drowned, his sons beheaded and his wife went to the gallows. Daria was sent to live as a prostitute, but her chastity was defended by a lioness. She was brought before Numerian and ordered to be executed by stoning and then burial alive in a deep pit beside her husband.