Avienius facts for kids

Postumius Rufius Festus Avienius was a Latin writer who lived in the 4th century AD. This means he lived about 1,600 years ago! He was from a place called Volsinii in Etruria, which was an ancient region in what is now Italy. His family, the Rufii Festi, was well-known and important.

It's important to know that Avienius is not the same person as the historian named Festus. They were different people.

Who Was Avienius?

Avienius was mostly known for his writing and for translating important Greek poems into Latin. Latin was the main language spoken in the Roman Empire at that time.

Translating Ancient Poems

One of the poems Avienius translated was called Phaenomena, originally written by a Greek poet named Aratus. This poem was a "didactic poem," which means it was meant to teach people something, often about science or nature.

He also translated another popular Greek poem called Periegesis. This poem described the known world from the perspective of the ancient city of Alexandria. It was written in a clear style that was easy for students to remember. Avienius translated it into Latin and called his version Descriptio orbis terrae, which means "Description of the World's Lands." Only the first part of this translation still exists today.

The Ora Maritima Poem

Avienius also wrote his own poem called Ora Maritima, which means "Seacoast." Some parts of this poem might have been inspired by an even older sailing guide from the 6th century BC called the Massiliote Periplus.

A Roman Governor

Besides being a writer, Avienius also held important jobs in the Roman government. He served as a Roman governor in two different Roman provinces: Achaia (which is modern-day Greece) and Africa (which was a Roman province in North Africa). A governor was like a high-ranking official who managed a region for the Roman Empire.

See also

In Spanish: Avieno para niños