Avienius

Avienius was a Latin poet and translator who flourished in the late 4th century AD. He is primarily known for his paraphrases and adaptations of Greek didactic poetry. Little is known about his life beyond what can be gleaned from his works.

Works:

• Descriptio or Ora Maritima: A paraphrase of a Greek periplus (a sailing manual or coastal survey) describing the coastlines of Europe, particularly the Iberian Peninsula and Gaul. The original Greek source is debated, but it is believed to be based on material from the Massaliote Periplus. The Ora Maritima provides valuable, albeit sometimes geographically inaccurate, information about the ancient geography and inhabitants of these regions.

• Aratea: A Latin paraphrase of Aratus's astronomical poem Phaenomena. Aratus's Phaenomena was a popular text in the Roman world, and Avienius's version contributed to its continued circulation. The Aratea describes the constellations and their associated myths. It is considered less literal than other Latin translations of Aratus, like that of Cicero or Germanicus.