11 Facts About Aulus Gellius

Aulus Gellius was educated in Athens, after which he returned to Rome.

Aulus Gellius is famous for his Attic Nights, a commonplace book, or compilation of notes on grammar, philosophy, history, antiquarianism, and other subjects, preserving fragments of the works of many authors who might otherwise be unknown today.

The only source for the life of Aulus Gellius is the details recorded in his writings.

Internal evidence points to Aulus Gellius having been born between AD 125 and 128.

Aulus Gellius was of good family and connections, and he was probably born and certainly brought up in Rome.

Aulus Gellius attended the Pythian Games in the year 147, and resided for a considerable period in Athens.

Aulus Gellius studied rhetoric under Titus Castricius and Sulpicius Apollinaris; philosophy under Calvisius Taurus and Peregrinus Proteus; and enjoyed the friendship and instruction of Favorinus, Herodes Atticus, and Fronto.

Aulus Gellius returned to Rome, where he held a judicial office.

Aulus Gellius was appointed by the praetor to act as an umpire in civil causes, and much of the time which he would gladly have devoted to literary pursuits was consequently occupied by judicial duties.

Aulus Gellius' only known work is the Attic Nights, which takes its name from having been begun during the long nights of a winter which he spent in Attica.

Better known is the critical edition of Johann Friedrich Gronovius; although he devoted his entire life to work on Aulus Gellius, he died in 1671 before his work could be completed.