Severianus of Damascus[1] (Greek: Σεβηριανός) was a Roman pagan politician who served under the emperor Marcian (450–457).
His father wanted him to become a lawyer and to this end he specialised in Roman law while also studying poetry and rhetoric.
[4] He was offered a high post—probably the praetorian prefecture of the East—by the emperor Zeno (474–491) on the condition that he become a Christian, but he refused.
[3] He joined a plot to assassinate Zeno and restore paganism, but was betrayed by his co-conspirators, among whom was Aspar's youngest son, Herminericus.
[3][5] These events probably took place before 478, since Damascius left Athens for Alexandria that year and would have lost personal contact with Severianus.