Bassus

Bassus the name of several Romans mentioned by Josephus.

1. CECILIUS, a knight, and probably quaestor in B.C. 59 (Cicero, ad Att. 2:9). He espoused Pompey's cause in the civil war, and, after the battle of Pharsalia (B.C. 48), fled to Tyre, of which he at length gained possession. He defended it successfully against Sextus Caesar, the governor of Syria, whom he treacherously caused to be slain (Josephus, Ant. 14:11; War, 1:10, 10). He afterward established himself as praetor in Apamea (B.C. 46), which he defended against Antistius Vetus, but was finally brought to submission by Cassius, B.C. 43. — Smith's Dict. of Class. Biog. s.v.

2. LUCILIUS, commander of the fleet of Vitellius B.C. 70, which he betrayed to Vespasian, by whom he was sent to quell some disturbances in Campania (Tacitus, Hist. 2:100; 3:12, 36, 40; 4:3). He was the successor of Cerealis Vitellianus as Roman legate in Judaea, where he reduced the fortresses of Herodium and Machaerus (Joseph. Ant. 7:6, 1 and 4).

3. SEE VENTIDIUS.