Saevius Nicanor
Encyclopedia
Saevius Nicanor is mentioned by Suetonius
as the first grammarian who acquired fame and honour as a teacher among the Romans
. He probably lived in the 3rd or 2nd century BCE.
He was the author of commentaries, the greater portion of which was said to have been suppressed (intercepta dicitur), and of a satire
where he declares himself to have been a freedman; and to have been distinguished by a double cognomen
:
Suetonius adds that according to some accounts, because of a bad reputation he retired to Sardinia
and there died.
(Reference: Suetonius de grammaticis et rhetoribus 5.)
Suetonius
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, commonly known as Suetonius , was a Roman historian belonging to the equestrian order in the early Imperial era....
as the first grammarian who acquired fame and honour as a teacher among the Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
. He probably lived in the 3rd or 2nd century BCE.
He was the author of commentaries, the greater portion of which was said to have been suppressed (intercepta dicitur), and of a satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
where he declares himself to have been a freedman; and to have been distinguished by a double cognomen
Cognomen
The cognomen nōmen "name") was the third name of a citizen of Ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. The cognomen started as a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became hereditary. Hereditary cognomina were used to augment the second name in order to identify a particular branch within...
:
Sevius Nicanor Marci libertus negabit:
Sevius Nicanor Pothos idem ac Marcus docebit.
Saevius Nicanor, freedman of Marcus, will deny
he's the same person as Saevius Pothos, even if Marcus says so.
Suetonius adds that according to some accounts, because of a bad reputation he retired to Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
and there died.
(Reference: Suetonius de grammaticis et rhetoribus 5.)