E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Seven Sleepers.
Seven noble youths of Ephesos, who fled in the Decian persecution to a cave in Mount Celion. After 230 years they awoke, but soon died, and their bodies were taken to Marseilles in a large stone coffin, still shown in Victor’s church. Their names are Constantine, Dionysius, John, Maxim’ian, Malchus, Martin’ian, and Serap’ion. This fable took its rise from a misapprehension of the words, “They fell asleep in the Lord”—i.e. died. (Gregory of Tours De Gloria Martyrum, i. 9.) (See Koran, xviii.: Golden Legend, etc.)
