CASSIODO'RUS MAGNUS (or, as some call him, MARCUS) AURELIUS, who lived in the sixth century, was a man of letters, an historian, and a statesman. He was born at Scylacium, in the country of the Bruttii, probably about the year 470, though some date his birth ten years later. His father, also named Casaiodorus, was high in office under Odoacer and Theodoric; and be himself was early introduced to public life under Odoacer, and obtained the confidence of Theodoric, under whom he filled the offices of secretary and quwetor. By Theodoric's successors be was appointed master of the offices and prwtorian prefect. Under the reign of Vitiges, about the age of 70, he retired from the world, and founded the monastery of Viviers, in Calabria, where he lived nearly to the age of 100 in devotional retire toeut, enlivened by the exercise of his mechanical ingenuity in the construction of water-clocks, dials, &c., the collection of a valuable library, and composition. He composed a history of the Goths in twelve books, which is only extant in the abridgment of Jornandes ; and he caused the ecclesiastical histories of Socrates, Sozomen, and Theodoret, to be translated into Latin by Epiphanes, nnder the title of Historic Tripartite.' Twelve books of his letters are extant : the first ten consist of instructions relating to the service, and written in the name of Theodorie, and his successors, Amalasontha, Athalaric, Theodatus, and Vitiges; the last two consist of similar papers written in his own name. They extend from the year 509 to 539. He also
composed a treatise 'De Artibus ac Disciplinis Liberalium Litemrum,' upon grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, music, geometry, and astronomy ; a treatise on orthography, an exposition of the psalms, and other religious works. He enjoyed a high reputation among his contemporaries for learning, eloquence, and talent; but his Latin is impure, and his style full of the conceits of the age. His last work, 'De Orthographic,' he states in his preface to have been written in his 93rd year. The best edition of his works is that of Garet, Rouen, 1679, in 2 vole. fol., reprinted at Venice; which contains the abridg ment of Jornandes and the ' Historia Tripartata,' with a life prefixed. There is also a life of Cassiodorus in French, by Sainte-Marthe. Paris, 1690. 12mo. As to the character of Cassiodorus, and the literature of his age, the reader may consult Schlosser, 'Universal Ilistorische Uebersicht,' &c. iii. 4.