Victor the Grammarian

fl. AD 303–320 (death unrecorded) · Lector of Cirta · Latin grammaticus · Cirta (Constantina), Numidia

The Nicene Age

Who Victor the Grammarian was

A teacher of Latin literature, son of a decurion of Cirta, grandson of a soldier who had served at court, and of Mauretanian blood — he gives his own pedigree under oath, which makes him one of the few laymen of the persecution whose social position is recorded in his own words. He was a lector, surrendered two codices and four quinions, and in 320 became the chief witness against his own bishop, admitting after three attempts to evade the question that he had shouted with the crowd against Silvanus’ election.

Also listed in desert fathers & mothers.

Common questions

When was Victor active?

Victor the Grammarian is dated fl. AD 303–320 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Victor in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400).

Which early sources mention Victor?

Victor the Grammarian 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 Victor from?

The archive associates Victor the Grammarian 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 Victor’s contemporaries?

The archive links Victor the Grammarian to 4 other figures, including Silvanus of Cirta, Nundinarius, Domitius Zenophilus and Mars. 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 303

Victor the Grammarian brought forth two codices, and four quinions.

Municipal acts of Cirta · Gesta apud Zenophilum, Acts of 19 May 303 · source text

The trial before Domitius Zenophilus, 13 December 320

c. AD 320

Victor said: ‘I am a lecturer in the literature of Rome, a Latin grammarian… My father was a decurion of Cirta. My grandfather was a soldier. He had seen service at court. For our family is of Mauritanian blood.’

Gesta apud Zenophilum · Gesta apud Zenophilum, trial of 13 December 320 · source text