AELIAN (CLAUDIUS AELIANUS) , Roman author and teacher of rhetoric, born at Praeneste, flourished under Septimius Severus and probably outlived Elagabalus (d. 222) . He spoke Greek so perfectly that he was called "honey-tongued" and wrote in Greek himself. His chief works are : De natura animal ium, curious stories of animal life, frequently used to convey moral lessons (ed. Schneider, 1784; Jacobs, 1832) Variae historiae in 54 books, some of which are fragmentary, consisting mainly of anecdotes of men and customs (ed. Liinemann, i8i ). Both works are valuable for the numerous excerpts from older writers. Twenty Peasants' Letters, after the manner of Alciphron but inferior, are also attributed to him.
Editio princeps of complete works by Gesner (1556) ; Hercher (1864-66). English translation of the Various History only by Fleming (1576), and Stanley (1665) of the Letters by Quillard (French) (1895).