Ate'rius
or HATE'RIUS, a Roman jurisconsult, who was probably contemporary with Cicero, and gave occasion to one of that great orator's puns. Cicero writes to L. Papirius Paetus (
ad Fam. 9.18),
Tu istic te Ateriano jure delectato: ego me hie Hirtiano. "While you are amusing yourself with the
law (
jus) of Aterius, let me enjoy my pea-fowl here with the capital
sauce (
jus) of my friend Hirtius."
[
J.T.G]