AT'TICITS, Trrus Pomroxrus, one of the most noble and generous men in ancient Rome, was b. in 109 me., or a few years before the birth of Cicero. his excellent education, during which he enjoyed the companionship of Torquatus, the younger Marius, and Cicero, developed, at an early age, a love of knowledge, which was increased during his stay in Athens. where he remained many years, glad to be separated from the political distractions of his native land. After 65 when he was induced by Sulla to return to Rome, he still devoted himself chiefly to study and the pleasures of friend ship, and refused to take any part in political affairs. Yet he was by no means without influence on public matters, as he lived on terms of familiar intercourse with several leading statesmen, and freely gave his counsel, which was generally sound and whole some, while it was always benevolent. He was a man of great wealth, having been left a large inheritance by his father and his uncle, which he greatly increased by judicious mercantile speculations. His mode of life was frugal. When he was informed that a
disorder under which he was laboring was mortal, he voluntarily starved himself, and d. in 32 mu. Among his personal friends, Cicero held the first place. The Anna/efr, written by A., were highly commended by his contemporaries. They were especially valuable on account of containing genealogical histories of the old Roman families. A. was one of those men (not uncommon either in ancient or modern times) in whom fine culture and a fortunate social position had highly developed the faculty of good taste. He had no creative genius, but was possessed of such delicate discernment that he could detect the flaw that would have been invisible to Cicero. Every author was anxious to secure his favorable opinion. None of his writings have been preserved. His biography is found in Cornelius Nepos, and in Cicero's Epistles to A.