The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Saturninus
fl. AD 303–320 (death unrecorded) · Gravedigger of Cirta · Cirta (Constantina), Numidia
The Nicene Age
Who Saturninus was
A gravedigger in 303 who was still there in 320 to testify against his bishop. Sworn before Zenophilus he gave the detail that convicted Silvanus — the silver lamp taken from behind a tun — and then confirmed, point by point, the money paid for a presbyterate, the casks taken from the Serapeum, and the quarrymen who carried Silvanus to his chair. Distinct from the four other Saturnini in the archive.
Common questions
When was Saturninus active?
Saturninus is dated fl. AD 303–320 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Saturninus in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400).
Which early sources mention Saturninus?
Saturninus is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Municipal acts of Cirta and Gesta apud Zenophilum. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Saturninus from?
The archive associates Saturninus 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 Saturninus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Saturninus to 3 other figures, including Silvanus of Cirta, Victor of Samsuricum and Domitius Zenophilus. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
The Acts of Munatius Felix, 19 May 303 — read into evidence before Zenophilus
c. AD 303In the presence of Paul the Bishop (who remained seated), of Montanus and Victor of Deusatelium, and Memorius priests, Mars and Helius the deacons, Marcuclius, Catullinus, Silvanus and Carosus the subdeacons standing by with Januarius, Meraclus, Fructuosus, Migginis, Saturninus, Victor and the rest of the grave-diggers, Victor of Aufidus made this brief inventory against them.Municipal acts of Cirta · Gesta apud Zenophilum, Acts of 19 May 303 · source text
The trial before Domitius Zenophilus, 13 December 320
c. AD 320Saturninus said: ‘I am a grave-digger.’ … ‘I know that he gave up a silver lamp… excepting that he took the lamp from behind a tun.’Gesta apud Zenophilum · Gesta apud Zenophilum, trial of 13 December 320 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Named alongside Saturninus in the sources
These figures are placed with Saturninus by the record — in a council roll, a martyr-act, a letter or a history — without Saturninus 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 Saturninus, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.