Part of a family of Pontian Greek descent, Severus was born and raised in Pompeiopolis, a city in the Roman province of Galatia.
Trajan had successfully annexed Arabia Petraea in 105 to 106, and appointed Severus as its first governor, who organized the region into a Roman province.
There are two surviving letters that mention the construction of the road, sent by Apollonarius, an Egyptian soldier and assistant secretary to Severus, dated to early 107.
[2] A milestone found near Thoana, 54 miles north of Petra, attests that it was completed in 110/111.
[3] He was suffect consul in absentia in the nundinium of October-December 112 with Titus Settidius Firmus as his colleague.