Domitius Zenofilus
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Domitius Zenofilus (or Zenophilus; 320–333 AD) was a Roman senator who had an illustrious political career under the Emperor
Constantine Constantine most often refers to: * Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I * Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria Constantine may also refer to: People * Constantine (name), a masculine g ...
. He governed many provinces and held the
consulate A consulate is the office of a consul. A type of mission, it is usually subordinate to the state's main representation in the capital of that foreign country (host state), usually an embassy (or, only between two Commonwealth countries, a ...
in 333.


Life and career

Zenofilus held the rank of , and thus was probably born into an aristocratic and senatorial family, but the commonness of his hereditary ''nomen'', " Domitius", makes it difficult to ascertain his lineage. Chastagnol posited a Sicilian or eastern origin based on his Greek surname. A
Numidia Numidia was the ancient kingdom of the Numidians in northwest Africa, initially comprising the territory that now makes up Algeria, but later expanding across what is today known as Tunisia and Libya. The polity was originally divided between ...
n inscription () recording a dedication by him to Aesculapius and Hygia indicates that he was probably a
pagan Paganism (, later 'civilian') is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions other than Christianity, Judaism, and Samaritanism. In the time of the ...
. He is first known to have been governor () of
Sicily Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...
, and then of an unknown other province. Later, on 13 December 320, he is attested as consular governor of
Numidia Numidia was the ancient kingdom of the Numidians in northwest Africa, initially comprising the territory that now makes up Algeria, but later expanding across what is today known as Tunisia and Libya. The polity was originally divided between ...
() in north Africa,. He is the first known governor with the title ''consularis''. . when he presided over the condemnation of Silvanus, the
Donatist Donatism was a schism from the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Carthage from the fourth to the sixth centuries. Donatists argued that Christian clergy must be faultless for their ministry to be effective and their prayers and sacraments to ...
bishop of
Cirta Cirta, also known by #Names, various other names in classical antiquity, antiquity, was the ancient Berbers, Berber, Punic people, Punic and Roman Empire, Roman settlement which later became Constantine, Algeria, Constantine, Algeria. Cirta was ...
, as a ''
traditor Traditor, plural: ''traditores'' (Latin), is a term meaning "the one(s) who had handed over" and defined by Merriam-Webster as "one of the Christians giving up to the officers of the law the Scriptures, the sacred vessels, or the names of their b ...
''. Zenophilus then appears to have served as proconsular governor of
Achaia Achaea () or Achaia (), sometimes transliterated from Greek as Akhaia (, ''Akhaḯa'', ), is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Western Greece and is situated in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. The ...
, no later than 323–324, and in this capacity may have been involved in the Emperor Constantine's preparations of war against his rival
Licinius Valerius Licinianus Licinius (; Ancient Greek, Greek: Λικίνιος; c. 265 – 325) was Roman emperor from 308 to 324. For most of his reign, he was the colleague and rival of Constantine I, with whom he co-authored the Edict of Milan that ...
. He was afterward proconsul of
Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...
, probably from 325 to 327, and finally proconsul of
Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...
, from 328 to 332. Constantine appointed Zenofilus as one of the two
consul Consul (abbrev. ''cos.''; Latin plural ''consules'') was the title of one of the two chief magistrates of the Roman Republic, and subsequently also an important title under the Roman Empire. The title was used in other European city-states thro ...
s for 333, with Delmatius, the Emperor's half-brother, as his colleague. Novak concluded that Zenofilus's career demonstrates "he was clearly one of the Constantinian government's most ubiquitous servants and supporters". An inscription on a seat in the
Colosseum The Colosseum ( ; , ultimately from Ancient Greek word "kolossos" meaning a large statue or giant) is an Ellipse, elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest ancient amphi ...
, from the time of
Odoacer Odoacer ( – 15 March 493 AD), also spelled Odovacer or Odovacar, was a barbarian soldier and statesman from the Middle Danube who deposed the Western Roman child emperor Romulus Augustulus and became the ruler of Italy (476–493). Odoacer' ...
, names one (...)enofilus, . If the correct name is Zenofilus, then the individual could have been a descendant of the consul, though Martindale also notes the restoration 'Menofilus' is possible.


Footnotes


References

* * * * * * * {{s-end Zenofilus 4th-century Roman consuls Late-Roman-era pagans Roman governors of Achaia Roman governors of Africa Roman governors of Asia Roman governors of Sicily Clarissimi viri