ARATOR, of Liguria, a Christian poet, who lived during the 6th century. He was educated by Laurentius, archbishop of Milan, and Ennodius, bishop of Pavia. He practised as an advo cate, and was appointed to an influential post at the court of Athalaric, king of the Ostrogoths. About S4o he took orders. He gained the favour of Pope Vigilius, to whom he dedicated his De Actibus Apostolorum (written about 544) , which was much admired in the middle ages. A text was published by Hubner, 185o.
See Leimbach, "Der Dichter Arator," in Theologische Studien and Kritik (1873) ; Manitius, Geschichte der christlich-lateinischen Poesie (1891).