Roman senator, praetorian prefect in 430, and a notable link between the cultures of antiquity and the Middle Ages, Macrobius Ambrosius Theodosius (early 5th century) represents an aristocratic tradition of amateur erudition that had Cicero and the elder Pliny as its most distinguished avatars. Though he flourished in a highly Christianized empire and was himself probably Christian, there is no sign of Christianity in his writings, which instead are devoted to philosophy and the traditional literary culture.
Besides a treatise on the differences and similarities between Greek and Latin verbs (excerpts only survive), Macrobius wrote two substantial works. The Saturnalia—a learned compilation cast in dialogue form, arranged in seven ‘books’ by editors since the Renaissance—recreates
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Citation: Kaster, Robert. "Ambrosius Theodosius Macrobius". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 07 September 2012 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=2872, accessed 22 November 2024.]
