Asellicus of Tusuros was a 4th-centurybishop ofTusuros,[1] aRoman Town in what wasRoman North Africa.[2] He is known for being outspoken at theCouncil of Carthage of 411 and from a number ofepistles withAugustine[3] andDonatian of Reims.
Inlate antiquity Tusuros was on theLimes Tripolitanus adjoining theSahara.Strabo described the area aslike a leopard's skin, spotted with inhabited places ... that are surrounded by waterless and desert land.[4] This tough and remote location was home to numerous Christian beliefs that were divergent from mainstreamCatholicism.
Asellicus was forced to addressDonatist,Manichaeist, Judaising and Peligalianist[5] groups within his town.
Tusuros was located in the heartland of theDonatist movement, with many of his neighbouring bishops being leaders of that movement. In 411 he and Aptus, his Donatist rival at Tusuros[6] travelled to theCouncil of Carthage (411) where Asellicus was keen to express his opinion on several matters.
There was a community of Jews in Tusuros some of whom who appear to have proselytised.[7][8] it is unclear however, if the movement came from the Jews themselves or from a section of the gentile church or a combination, but there was for a time a strong move to adoptOld Testament dietary and religious observance, both at Tusuros and nearby atThuburiscu. Asellicus sought the assistance ofAugustine, and we have several of their letters,[9] on this matter.