Aulus Gellius, author of the
Noctes Atticae[
Attic Nights], appears to have been born some time between 125 and 128; it is likely that his family (about which he says nothing) was of Italian colonial stock and came from North Africa, but he may have been born in Rome, which in any case remained his home. He was wealthy enough not to work for a living, which probably means he possessed the equestrian census of 400,000 sesterces, but although he belonged to polite society he was one of its humbler members, featuring in several of his anecdotes as a guest and never as the host. He is mentioned only once in any contemporary source; biographical evidence must be found in his vignettes of Roman intellectual life, on the assumption, so far not disproved, that even if the specific scenes are…
852 words
Citation: Holford-Strevens, Leofranc Adrian. "Aulus Gellius". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 06 January 2009 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=12535, accessed 22 November 2024.]
