The author of the Martyrium of Dasius is anonymous, writing in the late 4th or early 5th century CE during the Late Antique period. They composed a single surviving work, a prose account in Christian Koine Greek detailing the martyrdom of Saint Dasius, a Roman soldier. This text belongs to the genre of hagiography, which records the lives and deaths of saints for devotional and instructional purposes.

The narrative is set during the reign of Emperors Diocletian and Maximian in the early 4th century, a time of persecution for Christians. According to modern scholars, the anonymous author wrote later, in a period when celebrating martyrs had become central to Christian identity and practice. The author’s specific background and location are unknown, but their role was to preserve and honor the saint’s witness for their community.

The Martyrium of Dasius is significant as an example of early Christian literature. It offers insight into themes of faith and resistance within the Roman military. The work is particularly noted for incorporating the Roman festival of Saturnalia into its story of martyrdom. Academics view the text as a valuable source for understanding how late antique Christian communities remembered their past and developed the cult of saints.