The Genius was regarded as a higher power which creates and maintains life, assists at the begetting and birth of every individual man, determines his character, tries to influence his destiny for good and accompanies him through life as his tutelary spirit. A man's birthday was naturally the holiday of his attendant Genius, to whom he offered incense, wine, garlands, and cakes, and in whose honor he gave himself up to pleasure and enjoyment, for the Genius wishes a man to have pleasure in the life he has given him. The Romans spoke of enjoying oneself as indulging one's Genius, and of renunciation as spiting him. Men swore by their Genius as by their higher self, and by the Genius of persons whom they loved and honoured.
Maximinus II was Roman Emperor from 308 to 313. He was born of Dacian peasant stock to the sister of the emperor Galerius near their family lands around Felix Romuliana. He rose to high distinction after joining the army. In 305, his maternal uncle Galerius became the eastern Augustus and adopted Maximinus, raising him to the rank of Caesar and granting him the government of Syria and Egypt. He became embroiled in the civil wars of the Tetrarchy between rival claimants for control of the empire, in which he was defeated by Licinius. A committed pagan, he engaged in one of the last persecutions of Christians.
