id author title date pages extension mime words sentences flesch summary cache txt en-wikipedia-org-6070 Philip the Arab - Wikipedia .html text/html 4039 550 66 Commemorative coins, such as the one illustrated here, were issued in large numbers and, according to contemporary accounts, the festivities were magnificent and included spectacular games, ludi saeculares, and theatrical presentations throughout the city.[41] In the Colosseum, in what had been originally prepared for Gordian III's planned Roman triumph over the Persians,[42] more than 1,000 gladiators were killed along with hundreds of exotic animals including hippos, leopards, lions, giraffes, and one rhinoceros.[43] The events were also celebrated in literature, with several publications, including Asinius Quadratus's History of a Thousand Years, specially prepared for the anniversary.[15] At the same time, Philip elevated his son to the rank of co-Augustus.[15] Some later traditions, first mentioned by the historian Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History, held that Philip was the first Christian Roman Emperor. ./cache/en-wikipedia-org-6070.html ./txt/en-wikipedia-org-6070.txt