Avianus

10th-century manuscript of Avianus' fables: The Frog Physician and [[The Mischievous Dog Avianus (or possibly Avienus; c. AD 400) was a pagan writer of fables in Latin.

The 42 fables which bear his name are dedicated to a certain Theodosius, whose learning is spoken of in most flattering terms. He may possibly be Macrobius Ambrosius Theodosius, the author of ''Saturnalia''; some think he may be the emperor of that name. Nearly all the fables are to be found in Babrius, who was probably Avianus's source of inspiration, but as Babrius wrote in Greek, and Avianus speaks of having made an elegiac version from a rough Latin copy, probably a prose paraphrase, he was not indebted to the original. The language and metre are on the whole correct, in spite of deviations from classical usage, chiefly in the management of the pentameter. The fables soon became popular as a school-book. ''Promythia and epimythia'' (introductions and morals), paraphrases, and imitations were frequent, such as the ''Novus Avianus'' of Alexander Neckam (12th century). Provided by Wikipedia
Showing 1 - 8 results of 8 for search 'Avianus', query time: 0.07s Refine Results
  1. 1
    by Avianus
    Published 1572
    Antverpiae, Chr. Plantinus, 1572.
    29, [3] p. 16mo.
  2. 2
    by Avianus
    Antverpiae, Ex officina Christophori Plantini, [M][D]LXXXV.
    29, [2] p.
  3. 3
    by Avianus
    Published 1494
    Cologne, Heinrich Quentell, 1494.
    59 p. 4to.
  4. 4
    by Avianus
    Published 1512
    Antwerpen, Theod. Martinus Alost, 22 April 1512.
    18 l. 4to.
  5. 5
    by Avianus
    Published 1532
    Antwerpen [Joannes Grapheus voor] Greg. de Bonte, 22 Oct. 1532.
    128 l. 8vo.
  6. 6
    by Avianus
    Published 1530
    Antwerpen, Mart. de Keyser, 1530.
    [16], 172, [2] p.
  7. 7
  8. 8
    by Hecker, Beate
    Published 1982
    Hamburg : Romanisches Seminar der Universität Hamburg, 1982.
    cxiii, 288 p. : facsims. ; 21 cm.
    Other Authors: ...Avianus...

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