Ambrosius Macrobius Ancient Roman writer, philologist, Neoplatonic philosopher, music theorist Country: Italy

Content:

1. Life and Background
2. Political Career and Religion
3. Literary Contributions
4. Preservation of Lost Texts:
5. "The Dream of Scipio":
6. Theory of Music
7. Medieval Legacy
8. Later Scholarship
9. Lunar Recognition:

Life and Background

Ambiguous Origins:

Little is known about Macrobius's life. Theories suggest his origins in North Africa or Greece, based on historical references to a long-lived tribe (macrobii) in those regions.

Political Career and Religion

High-Ranking Official:

Evidently, a man named Macrobius held prefectures in Spain and proconsulships in Africa. High offices at the time were primarily held by Christians, suggesting Macrobius's possible religious affiliation despite a lack of explicit references in his works.

Literary Contributions

"Saturnalia":

Macrobius penned "Saturnalia," a literary dialogue that addressed the origins of the Saturnalia festival, literary criticism, and anecdotes about historical figures. It is comparable to the works of late antique authors like Aulus Gellius.

Preservation of Lost Texts:

Valued for its numerous citations and fragments from now-lost classical literature, "Saturnalia" serves as a crucial resource for scholars.

"The Dream of Scipio":

In "The Dream of Scipio," Macrobius provided commentary on an episode from Cicero's "De re publica." He explores Neoplatonic philosophy, including the harmony of the cosmos, the World Soul, and the significance of dreams.

Theory of Music

Compilation and Adaptation:

Macrobius presented a theory of music in Book II of his writings, primarily adapting Greek musical concepts to a Latin context. He discussed Pythagorean principles, musical intervals, and the relationship between the World Soul and music.

Medieval Legacy

Medieval Influence:

"The Dream of Scipio" gained substantial popularity during the Middle Ages, offering insight into Neoplatonic perspectives not found elsewhere.

Later Scholarship

Treatises on Grammar:

A condensed summary of Macrobius's "On the Differences and Similarities of the Greek and Latin Verb" is attributed to John Scotus Eriugena, providing a glimpse into his linguistic work.

Lunar Recognition:

In 1935, the International Astronomical Union named a crater on the Moon's visible side after Macrobius.

Philology

Reinhold Klotz	Giovanni Capis	Firudin-bek Kocharlinskiy
Georg Curtius	Franz Dirlmeier	Isa Gabibbayli