Pompeius Grammaticus, also known as Pompeius the Grammarian, was a Latin grammarian of the fifth century, author of a Commentary on Donatus's grammar (Commentum artis Donati).

Biography edit

Not much is known of Pompeius' life. He taught in Africa at the end of the fifth or at the very beginning of the sixth century.[1]

Work edit

Pompeius is known for his commentary on Donatus, centered on the Ars maior. This commentary was intended for school education, as shown by the care taken in explaining even the most basic points.[2]

A commentary on Virgil and a commentary on Terence were sometimes attributed to him, but these are mere hypotheses.[3]

Editions edit

  • Heinrich Keil, Grammatici latini, t. 5, Leipzig, Teubner, 1868, p. 95-312; reprint Hidesheim, Olms, 1961.

Notes and References edit

  1. ^ R.A. Kaster, Guardians of Language: The Grammarian and Society in Late Antiquity (coll. “Transformation of the classical heritage”, 11), University of California Press, 1988, repr. 1997, c. IV "Pompeius", pp. 139 and 343-344. Pompeius Grammaticus must be located after Servius, whom he uses, and before Isidore of Seville, who uses him. Everything we know about him is in fact deduced from his work.
  2. ^ R.A. Kaster, Guardians of Language: The Grammarian and Society in Late Antiquity (coll. “Transformation of the classical heritage”, 11), University of California Press, 1988, repr. 1997, c. IV "Pompeius", p. 343.
  3. ^ See discussion at Kaster, Guardians of Language: The Grammarian and Society in Late Antiquity (coll. “Transformation of the classical heritage”, 11), University of California Press, 1988, repr. 1997, c. IV "Pompeius", pp. 344-346.

Bibliography edit

  • Louis Holtz, « Tradition et diffusion de l'œuvre grammaticale de Pompée, commentateur de Donat », Revue de philologie, 45, 1971, p. 48-83.
  • Robert A. Kaster, Guardians of Language: The Grammarian and Society in Late Antiquity (coll. Transformation of the classical heritage, 11), University of California Press, 1988, réimpr. 1997, chap. IV « Pompeius », p. 139-168 and pp. 343-346 n° 125. (Online.)

External links edit