GE'LLIUS, MMUS (or, according to Immo writers, AGELLIUS), the author of the 'Nodes Attime; was born at Rome in the early part of the 2nd century, and died at the beginning of the reign of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. We have few particulars of his life : we know that he studied rhetoric under Cornelius Fronto at Rome, and philosophy under Phavorinus at Athena, and that he was appointed at an early age to a judicial office. (' Noct. Att.,' xiv. 2.) The 'Noctes Attica) ' was written, as he informs us in the preface to the work, duri'.g the winter evenings in Attica, to amuse his children in their hours of relaxation. It appears from his own account that he had been accustomed to keep a commonplace book, in which he entered whatever he heard in conversation, or met with in his private reading, that appeared worthy of memory. In composing his Noctes he seems merely to have copied the contents of his common-place book with a little alteration in the language, but without any attempt at classification or arrangement. This work contains anecdotes and
arguments, scraps of history and pieces of poetry, and dissertations on various points in philosophy, geometry, and grammar. Amidst much that is trifling and puerile, we obtain information on many subjects relating to antiquity of which we must otherwise have been ignorant. It is divided into twenty books, which are still extant, with the exception of the eighth and the beginning of the seventh. He mentions in the conclusion of his preface his intention of continuing the work, which he probably never carried into effect. The 'Noctes Atticas was printed for the first time at Rome in 1469, and has been frequently reprinted; tho most valuable editions are the Bipont., 2 vols. 8vo, 1784 ; one by Gronovius, 4to, 1706 (reprinted by Conradi, Leips., 1762); and one by Lion, 2 vols. 8vo, Giittingen, 1824. The work has been translated into English by Beloe, 3 vole. Svo, London, 1795 ; and into French by Doua de Vertenil, 3 vols. 12tno, Paris, 1776-77.