Asconius Pedianus (8 BCE–76 CE)
Born 8 BCE, died 76 CE.
Quintus Asconius Pedianus (9 BC – AD 76) was a Roman rhetorician from Patavium. There is no evidence that Asconius engaged in a public career, but his familiarity with the politics and geography of contemporary Rome suggests that he may have written much of his works in the city. He was likely born into an equestrian family; his familiarity with senatorial procedure also suggests membership in the Roman Senate. During the reigns of Claudius and Nero he compiled historical commentaries on Cicero's speeches for his two sons, employing various sources: the Acta Diurna, shorthand reports or skeletons (commentarii) of Cicero's unpublished speeches, Tiro's life of Cicero, and speeches, letters and histories written during or shortly after Cicero's times, by such authors as Varro, Atticus, Antias, Tuditanus and Fenestella (a contemporary of Livy whom he often criticizes). Only five commentaries survive, relating to in Pisonem, pro Scauro, pro Milone, pro Cornelio de maiestate, and in toga candida. The commentary on pro Scauro can be approximately dated, since Pedianus speaks of Longus Caecina (died AD 57) as still living, and implies that Claudius (died AD 54) is deceased.
Text from the Wikipedia article Quintus_Asconius_Pedianus, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.