Peducaeus
2. SEX.
PEDUCAEUS, was propraetor in Sicily during B. C. 76 and 75, in the latter of which years Cicero served under him as quaestor. His government of Sicily gained him the love of the provincials, and Cicero in his orations against Verres constantly speaks of his justice and integrity, calling him
Vir optimus et innocentissimus. During his administration he took a census of the island, to which Cicero frequently refers.
But in consequence of his being an intimate friend of Verres, he was rejected as judex by Cicero at the trial of the latter.
At a later time Cicero also spoke of Peducaeus in terms of the greatest respect and esteem. (
Cic. Ver. 1.7, 2.56, 3.93, 4.64,
de Fin. 2.18,
ad Att. x. 1.)
There is some difficulty in determining in the letters of Cicero, whether this Peducaeus is meant or his son [No. 3]; but the two following passages, from the time at which the letters were written, would seem to refer to the father (
ad Att. 1.4, 5). Besides the son Sextus mentioned below, Peducaeus appears to have had another son, who was adopted into the Curtia gens. [PEDUCAEANUS.]
