The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Dontius
fl. AD 320 (death unrecorded) · Presbyter of Cirta · Cirta (Constantina), Numidia
The Nicene Age
Who Dontius was
One of three clergy named by four separate witnesses as having taken the vinegar out of the imperial treasury casks that Purpurius removed from the temple of Serapis — a charge of theft from the fisc laid alongside the charge of betrayal.
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 Dontius active?
Dontius is dated fl. AD 320 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Dontius in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400).
Which early sources mention Dontius?
Dontius 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 Dontius from?
The archive associates Dontius 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 Dontius’ contemporaries?
The archive links Dontius to 4 other figures, including Superius, Lucianus, Purpurius of Limata and Silvanus of Cirta. 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 320Saturninus said: ‘By Purpurius the Bishop, and the vinegar by Silvanus and Dontius and Superius the priests, and Lucianus the deacon.’Gesta apud Zenophilum · Gesta apud Zenophilum, trial of 13 December 320 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
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 Dontius, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.