Anatolius (, died c. 579/580) was a Byzantine official, active in the reign of Tiberius II Constantine (r. 574–582). He was a topoteretes (deputy) of the praetorian prefecture of the East and praeses (provincial governor) of Osroene. He was accused of being a crypto-pagan and consequently executed.
Sources
Primary sources about him include Evagrius Scholasticus, and John of Ephesus. There are mentions of him in the works of Michael the Syrian and Nikephoros Kallistos Xanthopoulos.
Biography
Anatolius was apparently a man of humble origins. He eventually rose to high office, gaining in political significance. Evagrius Scholasticus reports: "Anatolius, who was originally one of the vulgar and an artisan, but had subsequently, by some means or other, obtained admission into public offices and other posts of importance." He lived for some time in Antioch, which was renamed at the time Theopolis ("City of God"). He conducted his business in the city and was personally acquainted with Patriarch Gregory of Antioch (term 571–593). Evagrius remarks "In this city he was pursuing his engagements, from which resulted an intimacy with Gregory, president of that Church, and frequent visits to him, partly for the purpose of conversing on matters of business, and partly with a view to obtain greater influence on the ground of his intercourse with the prelate."
By 579, Anatolius had risen to his highest post. John of Ephesus describes Anatolius as "archon and deputy praetorian prefect" () at Edessa. This would make him a topoteretes (deputy) of the Praetorian prefecture of the East and praeses (provincial governor) of Osroene, of which Edessa was the capital. One of the Novellae Constitutiones ("New Constitutions") mentions the topoteretes of Osroene and Mesopotamia. This was the post Anatolius held and the reference might be to Anatolius himself.
Arrest
In 578, the Byzantine authorities received reports on an impending revolt of crypto-pagans in Baalbek. Theophilus, an official who had previously faced revolts by Jews and Samaritans, was tasked with locating said crypto-pagans. Suspects were arrested and interrogated under torture, forced to name other "pagans". Soon Theophilus had lists of names, including prominent citizens spread throughout the eastern provinces of the Byzantine Empire. The persecution spread to the rest of these provinces.
Theophilus was searching for Rufinus, a high priest of the pagans, who "had lately gone on a visit to Anatolius". Theophilus followed the man to Edessa. He claimed to have interrupted a sacrifice to Zeus/Jupiter taking place within the city. John of Ephesus relates, "On their arrival they [Theophilus and his escort] learned that he [Rufinus] was dwelling there, and having waited for night, upon surrounding the house in order to arrest him, they found a feast of Zeus actually being celebrated by the heathens, and people assembled together with Rufinus to offer sacrifices. On becoming aware, however, that they were endeavouring to surround the house, those present took the alarm, and fled. But Rufinus knowing well that he had no place of refuge to which he could escape, drew his knife, and smote it into his heart, and having given himself also a wound in the abdomen, fell down dead."
Theophilus captured "a gouty old man, too feeble to flee, and an old woman". The two were interrogated under threat of death, forced to declare "the names of all who had taken part in these proceedings". They supposedly named several people, but only Anatolius is named in primary sources. Anatolius reportedly tried to create an alibi for himself. He hastily dressed himself in the typical clothes of a traveller (travelling coat, leather leggings and walking shoes) and then made a late-night visit to the residence of the Bishop of Edessa, pretending to have just returned from a journey. He hoped that the Bishop would testify about his supposed journey.