The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Castus
fl. AD 320 (death unrecorded) · Deacon of Cirta · Cirta (Constantina), Numidia
The Nicene Age
Who Castus was
A deacon called to testify at the trial. Asked his station in life — the question every witness was asked, and which the grammarian had answered with three generations of pedigree — he gave the shortest answer in the document. He confirmed the lamp, the casks and the money-bag, and said he had never seen any of Lucilla’s four hundred folles reach anyone.
Named once, in the Gesta apud Zenophilum — the Cirta records of 19 May 303 and 13 December 320; no other ancient source names him.
Common questions
When was Castus active?
Castus is dated fl. AD 320 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Castus in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400).
Which early sources mention Castus?
Castus is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Gesta apud Zenophilum. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Castus from?
The archive associates Castus with Cirta (Constantina), Numidia. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Castus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Castus to 3 other figures, including Silvanus of Cirta, Victor the Grammarian and Lucilla. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (1)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
The trial before Domitius Zenophilus, 13 December 320
c. AD 320Zenophilus said to Castus: ‘What is your state of life?’ Castus said: ‘I have no dignity.’Gesta apud Zenophilum · Gesta apud Zenophilum, trial of 13 December 320 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Named alongside Castus in the sources
This figure is placed with Castus by the record — in a council roll, a martyr-act, a letter or a history — without Castus naming them in return.
Events in this lifetime
- AD 250 · The Decian persecution, AD 250
- AD 251 · The Novatianist schism, AD 251
- AD 257 · The Valerian persecution, AD 257
- AD 260 · Gallienus’ edict of toleration, AD 260
- AD 268 · Antioch deposes Paul of Samosata, AD 268
- AD 272 · Aurelian awards the Antioch church, AD 272
- AD 301 · Hripsime and her company, AD 301
- AD 303 · The Great Persecution begins, AD 303
- AD 303 · The search of the church at Cirta, AD 303
- AD 306 · The Council of Elvira, AD 306
- AD 311 · Galerius’ edict of Serdica, AD 311
- AD 313 · The Edict of Milan, AD 313
- AD 314 · The Council of Arles, AD 314
- AD 320 · Silvanus tried before Zenophilus, AD 320
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Castus, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.