Antiochus is a figure associated with the Sardinian
mines from which the
Romans extracted
minerals and
precious metals; the Romans condemned
prisoners of war and Christians to work these mines. His legend states that he was a physician during the reign of
Hadrian. He had converted many people in
Cappadocia and
Galatia to the Christian religion, and was therefore tortured and sent into
exile by the authorities. Antiochus was condemned to work the mines on the island that now bears his name. The island, inhospitable and isolated during this period, was named
Plumbaria at the time, after its source of
lead (
plumbum). Antiochus, however, converted his jailer
Cyriacus in Sardinia, and had built a small underground
oratory on Plumbaria, and was thus condemned to death there. ==Veneration==