A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

1. A contemporary of Domitian, whom he dissuaded from killing his wife Domitia. This Ursus was no favourite with Domitian, and was nearly put to death by the tyrant; but on the intercession of Julia, the niece and mistress of Domitian, Ursus was not only pardoned, but raised to the consulship. His name, however, does not occur in the Fasti. (D. C. 67.3, 4.) Statius addressed Ursus a poem of consolation on the death of a favourite slave (Silv. 2.6), and in the Preface to the second book of his Silvae, he speaks of Ursus as " juvenis candidissimus et sine desidiae jactura doctissimus." Statius calls him Flavius Ursus.