Pontius of Carthage

There is only one surviving account of Pontius, a brief mention in Jerome's De viris illustribus ("On famous men") 68:Pontius, diaconus Cypriani, usque ad diem passionis eius cum ipso exsilium sustinens egregium volumen vitae et passionis Cypriani reliquit.Pontius, Cyprian's deacon, who up to the day of his martyrdom endured exile with him, wrote a remarkable book of the life and passion of Cyprian.Although the author is not identified in the transmitted Life of Cyprian, Jerome is clearly writing of this work.

[1] The only other information comes from the author's own statements: he writes in part from what he himself witnessed or heard from older people;[2] he accompanied Cyprian into exile at Curubis, modern Korba.

Jerome's reference may not be intended as a title; but it is certainly the case that the book is clearly divided into two parts, one concerned with Cyprian's life, one with the events leading up to his martyrdom.

[10] Alongside a small number of elements from experience, such as the prophetic dream that Cyprian had on being exiled to Curubis in AD 257 (Pont.

[13] Cyprian had been a controversial figure in his lifetime; and even after his death Pontius felt the need to react to some of the criticism he received.