Dasius

1. Of Brundusium, was commander of the garrison at Clastidium in B. C. 218, and being bribed by Hannibal, he surrendered the place to him, whereby the Carthaginians, who were encamped on the Trebia, obtained plentiful stores of provisions. (Liv. 21.48.)

2. Of Salapia. He and Blattius were the leading men at Salapia, and he favoured Hannibal, while Blattius advocated the interests of Rome, at least as much as he could do in secret. But as Blattius could effect nothing without Dasius, he at length endeavoured to persuade him to espouse the part of the Romans. But Dasius, unwilling to support his rival, informed Hannibal of the schemes of Blattius. Both were then summoned by Hannibal. Blattius, when he appeared before the Carthaginian general, accused Dasius of treachery; and Hannibal, who had not much confidence in either of them, dismissed them both. However, Blattius carried out his design, and Salapia with its Punic garrison was surrendered to the Romans. Dasius was killed in the massacre which ensued. This happened in B. C. 210. (Liv. 26.38; Appian, Annib. 45, &c.) [L.S]

of Arpi. When P. Sempronius and Q. Fabius, in B. C. 213, had taken up their positions in Lucania and Apulia against Hannibal, Dasius went at night time into the camp of Fabius, and offered to deliver up Arpi into his hands, if the consul would give him an appropriate reward. Fabius consulted with his other officers, and, as Dasius had on a former occasion betrayed the Romans, as he now proposed to betray Hannibal, it was resolved that for the present he should be kept in custody till the end of the war. In the mean time, his absence had created considerable uneasiness at Arpi, and a report of his treachery reached Hannibal, who is said to have availed himself of the opportunity to confiscate the property of the traitor, and also to order his mother and her children to be buried alive. (Liv. 24.45.) [L.S]