Macrobius

Macrobius, fully Macrobius Ambrosius Theodosius, also known as Theodosius (fl. c. 400 AD), was a Roman provincial who lived during the early fifth century, during Late Antiquity, the period of time corresponding to the late Roman Empire to the early Middle Ages, and when Latin was as widespread as Greek among the elite. He is primarily known for his writings, which include the widely copied and read Commentarii in Somnium Scipionis ("Commentary on the Dream of Scipio"), which was one of the most important sources for Neoplatonism in the Latin West during the Middle Ages, the Saturnalia, a compendium of ancient Roman religious and antiquarian lore, and De differentiis et societatibus graeci latinique verbi ("On the Differences and Similarities of the Greek and Latin Verb"), which is now lost. Ambrosius Theodosius Macrobius, (flourished AD 400), Latin grammarian and philosopher whose most important work is the Saturnalia, the last known example of the long series of symposia headed by the Symposium of Plato. Little is known about his life; long identified with Theodosius, proconsul of Africa in 410, he is now thought to be instead the Theodosius who was praetorian praefect (commander of the praetorian guard) of Italy in 430. The Saturnalia, which is dedicated to Macrobius’s son Eustachius, purports to give an account of discussions in private houses on the day before the Saturnalia and on three days of that festival. Most of the conversation is devoted to a careful and respectful reading of the poet Virgil, who is treated as a master of philosophy and religion as well as of rhetoric and grammar. There is much nostalgia for Rome’s pagan past; Christianity, the dominant religion of the 5th century AD, is ignored (except, perhaps, for the name of the boorish character called Evangelus). Macrobius also wrote a commentary on Cicero’s “Somnium Scipionis” (“The Dream of Scipio”) from the De Republica. This is a Neoplatonic work in two books. Of a third work by Macrobius entitled De differentiis et societatibus Graeci Latinique verbi (“On the Differences and Similarities Between Greek and Latin Words”) only fragments remain.