He was the author of a number of papyrus-letters, mostly addressed to his father Claudius Tiberianus, a veteran settled in Karanis.
Claudius Terentianus attempted to get into the Roman Army but, lacking suitable references, failed and enlisted in the lower status and more dangerous classis Alexandriae (Alexandrian fleet) sometime around 110 AD.
He complained about life in the fleet and never gave up hope of joining the Roman army, subsequently achieving his dream of transferring to a legion.
He was deployed to Syria, possibly in relation to Trajan's Parthian campaign, and was wounded quelling civic unrest in Alexandria.
Claudius Terentianus was the unexpected hero of the British Museum's "Life in the Roman Army" exhibition from Feb- June 2024.