Apostle Peter !!
Peter ( aka Simon/ Cephas) Beheaded by Nero? No, not really. This legend was dreamed up by the mid-2nd century pope Anicetus (CE 156-166) when he became locked in a conflict with the venerable Polycarp of Smyrna . Polycarp had tried to win the argument (over the dating of Easter) by insisting that he spoke with the authority of the apostle John . In response, Anicetus staked a claim to Peter, and Peter , "Prince of the Apostles", trumps John . 2nd century texts known as the " Clementines " had made Peter the "first Bishop of Rome" and 3rd century invention gave him a 25-year pontificate – which made it a tad tricky for him to have died at the hands of Nero but, hey, this is "tradition." 3rd century Church Father Origen went even farther hatching up a colourful plot: “Peter, feeling himself unworthy to be crucified the same way as his Lord, chose option 'B' – Crucifixion upside down! Robert Mascharan !!