What is "priscus"

Priscus of Panium (; Greek: Πρίσκος) was a 5th-century Roman diplomat and Greek historian and rhetorician (or sophist).

Priscus is the Latin word for "ancient" or "venerable." There were several figures in Antiquity named Priscus:

• Priscus of Panium, 5th-century historian
• Priscus Attalus, senator and briefly Emperor
• Priscus of Epirus, 4th-century Neoplatonist philosopher and friend of the emperor Julian
• Marcus Statius Priscus, 2nd-century Roman general and politician
• Caerellius Priscus, governor of Roman Britain in the 170s
• Gaius Julius Priscus, Roman usurper
• Priscus (general), Byzantine general of the late 6th/early 7th centuries
• Helvidius Priscus, Stoic philosopher
• Tarquinius Priscus, legendary king of Rome
• Clutorius Priscus, Roman poet
• Priscus (gladiator), 1st-century Roman gladiator
• Saint Priscus
• Iavolenus Priscus, 1st-century Roman jurist
• Titus Julius Priscus, 3rd-century Roman governor and usurper
• Bison priscus, a Pleistocene species of Bison from Eurasia
• 13653 Priscus, an asteroid

Priscus (fl. late 1st century AD) was a Roman gladiator of Celtic origins. His combat with Verus was the highlighted entertainment of the opening day games sponsored by Titus to inaugurate the Flavian Amphitheatre in AD 80. It was recorded in a laudatory poem by Martial — Liber Spectaculorum is the only known detailed description to survive of a gladiatorial fight. This laudatory poem was written to honor and to highlight all the events of Titus's games. Their fight marked the beginning of the celebration and concluded in a rare result. Both gladiators were declared victors of the match, and were unexpectedly awarded their freedom by the Emperor.

"As Priscus and Verus each drew out the contest and the struggle between the pair long stood equal, shouts loud and often sought discharge for the combatants. But Titus obeyed his own law (the law was that the bout go on without shield until a finger be raised). What he could do, he did, often giving dishes and presents. But an end to the even strife was found: equal they fought, equal they yielded. To both Titus sent wooden swords and to both palms. Thus valor and skill had their reward. This has happened under no prince but you, Titus: two fought and both won."

Priscus is one of several Catholic saints and martyrs. In the 1921 Benedictine Book of Saints there are seven figures named Priscus mentioned.

There are different feast days involved. In some confusion, he is said to be the first Bishop of Capua, a martyr of the third century, and an African bishop; but the sources have been cast into doubt, and even the century is unclear in some accounts.

Priscus or Priskos (; died 613) was a leading East Roman ( Byzantine) general during the reigns of the Byzantine emperors Maurice ( reigned 582–602), Phocas (r. 602–610) and Heraclius (r. 610–641). Priscus comes across as an effective and capable military leader, although the contemporary sources are markedly biased in his favour. Under Maurice, he distinguished himself in the campaigns against the Avars and their Slavic allies in the Balkans. Absent from the capital at the time of Maurice's overthrow and murder by Phocas, he was one of the few of Maurice's senior aides who were able to survive unharmed into the new regime, remaining in high office and even marrying the new emperor's daughter. Priscus, however, also negotiated with and assisted Heraclius in the overthrow of Phocas, and was entrusted with command against the Persians in 611–612. After the failure of this campaign, he was dismissed and tonsured. He died shortly after.