DOMITIUS

AFER  , a Roman orator and advocate, born at Nemausus (Nimes) in Gallia Narbonensis, flourished in the reigns of Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero . His pupil Quintilian calls him the greatest orator he had ever known; but he disgraced his talents by acting as public informer against some of the most distinguished personages in Rome . He gained the favour of Tiberius by accusing Claudia Pulcra, the widow of Germanicus, of adultery and the use of magic arts against the emperor . Judicious flattery secured him the consul-ship under Caligula (39) ; and under Nero he was superintendent of the water supply . He died A.D . 6o, according to Jerome, of over-eating . Quintilian quotes some of his witty sayings (dicta), collections of which were published, and mentions two books by him On Witnesses . Quintilian, Instit. vi . 3 . 42, viii . 5 . 16, x .

I. r18, &c.; Tac .

Ann. iv . 52 ; Dio Cassius fix . 19, lx . 33 ; Pliny, Epp. viii . 18 .