a freedman of Caligula, in whose reign he possessed very great influence and power, though
in the end he was an accomplice in the conspiracy by which this emperor was murdered. In the
reign of Claudius, Callistus continued to have great influence, and endeavoured secretly, in
conjunction with others, to counteract the attachment of Messalina to C. Silius; but Callistus
was afraid of losing his position, and gave up opposing the scheme of Messalina. When she had
been put to death, Callistus supported the designs of Lollia Paulina, who wished to become the
emperor's wife; but he did not succeed in this point, for Claudius married Agrippina, who was
supported by Pallas. This Callistus is undoubtedly the person to whom the physician Scribonius
Largus dedicates his work; and from it we learn that the full name of Callistus was C. Julius
Callistus. (Epist. 47;