Bassus was a native of Beneventum and patron of that city,[1] as well as of Fabrateria Vetus[2] and, by family tradition, of Naples.
[6] At the beginning of the career he was questor candidatus and pretor tutelaris, a personal unification of several offices.
In this capacity he investigated a dispute between Cyriades and Auxentius about the building of a bridge[11] and a debt to the arcs vinaria (the money for wine donations to the people).
[13] Bassus was a Christian;[7] he probably was the judge in a trial for heresy against bishop Ephesius, of the Luciferian current, whom he acquitted.
[14] He was probably also the instigator of the motion in 382 to remove the altar of Victory from the Senate house and abolish state subsidies for traditional Roman cults.