Rufus Festus

Constance Sleeth (University of Otago)

Ed. by William John Dominik, University of Otago
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.1.2: Ancient Roman Writing and Culture (Republic and Empire), -750-476.
Vol. editors: Anca Dan (École Practique de Hautes Études PSL), Martine Diepenbroek (University of Johannesburg), William John Dominik (University of Otago), Giacomo Fedeli (University of Exeter), Victoria Fendel (University of Oxford), Thomas Habinek (University of Southern California), Emily Kneebone (University of Nottingham), Elodie Paillard (University of Sydney), Sophia Papaioannou (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Guendalina Daniela Maria Taietti (University of Liverpool), Jula Wildberger (American University of Paris)

Dates

Born c. 340
Died c. 390
Activity c. 369-c. 370

Places

Active in Ancient Rome (Republic & Empire)

Activities

Primary

Historian / Chronicler

Resources

Festus' Works

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The identification of the author of

Breviarium Rerum Gestarum Populi Romani

(“Summary of Roman History”) remains controversial, though most scholars now identify him with one Festus of Tridentum, a proconsul of Asia who appears in the work of Ammianus Marcellinus. The

Breviarium

was probably written during 369-370. A recent synopsis and discussion of Festus’ identity appears in Kelly 2010.

Reference:

Reference:

Gavin Kelly, “The Roman World of Festus’ Breviarium” in Unclassical Traditions 1: Alternatives to the Classical Past in Late Antiquity, edd. C. Kelly, R. Flower and M. S. Williams (Cambridge, 2010), 72-89.

Gavin Kelly, “The Roman World of Festus’

Breviarium

” in

Unclassical Traditions 1: Alternatives to the Classical Past in Late Antiquit

y, edd. C. Kelly, R. Flower and…

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89 words

Citation: Sleeth, Constance. "Rufus Festus". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 06 December 2012 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=13008, accessed 25 November 2024.]