Fabius Planciades Fulgentius

Fabius Planciades Fulgentius

Fabius Planciades Fulgentius was a Latin writer and grammarian of late antiquity, often associated with the 5th or 6th century AD. He is best known for his allegorical and mythological works, which were influential during the Middle Ages.

Biography

Little is known about the life of Fabius Planciades Fulgentius. He is often confused with Fulgentius of Ruspe, a Christian bishop, but they are distinct individuals. Fulgentius the writer is believed to have lived during the late Roman Empire, possibly in North Africa, although exact details about his life and career remain obscure.

Works

Fulgentius is credited with several works that have survived to modern times, each reflecting his interest in mythology, allegory, and the interpretation of classical texts.

Mythologies

The "Mythologies" (Mythologiae) is perhaps Fulgentius's most famous work. It is a collection of allegorical interpretations of various myths from Greek and Roman mythology. Fulgentius attempts to provide moral and philosophical meanings behind these myths, often drawing on Neoplatonism and other philosophical traditions.

Expositio Virgilianae Continentiae

The "Expositio Virgilianae Continentiae" is a work in which Fulgentius interprets the Aeneid by Virgil allegorically. He presents the epic as a journey of the soul, with each character and event symbolizing different aspects of human life and spiritual development.

De Aetatibus Mundi et Hominis

The "De Aetatibus Mundi et Hominis" ("On the Ages of the World and Man") is a work that outlines a history of the world in seven ages, drawing parallels between the ages of man and the ages of the world. This work reflects the medieval fascination with numerology and the symbolic interpretation of history.

Influence

Fulgentius's works were highly influential during the Middle Ages, particularly in the realm of allegorical interpretation. His writings were used by medieval scholars to understand and teach classical texts, and his allegorical methods were adopted by many later writers.

Legacy

Fulgentius's influence waned with the Renaissance, as scholars began to favor more literal interpretations of classical texts. However, his works remain of interest to scholars studying medieval literature and the transmission of classical knowledge.

See Also

• Allegory
• Neoplatonism
• Medieval literature

References

• Curtius, Ernst Robert. European Literature and the Latin Middle Ages. Princeton University Press, 1990.
• Whitbread, Leslie George. Fulgentius the Mythographer. Ohio State University Press, 1971.