The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire · Character
Quintus Aurelius Symmachus
Also known as Quintus Symmachus, the orator Symmachus, pontiff Symmachus
- Minor
- First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 172
An aged senator of venerable appearance, he carries the weight of Roman tradition and the dignity of his years, even as circumstances test the limits of his endurance.
- Gender
- male
- Age
- Elderly (aged senator)
- First appears
- Book 1 · Ch. 172
- Books
- 1
Quintus Aurelius Symmachus was a respected Roman senator and the father-in-law of Boethius. His life ended tragically when he was dragged in chains from Rome to Ravenna by order of Theodoric, becoming a victim of the Gothic king's paranoia. His fate illustrates the dangerous position of the Roman senatorial class under barbarian rule.
Description
Symmachus presents the classic image of a venerable Roman senator, his white hair and aged features marking him as an elder statesman of considerable dignity. His senatorial toga and bearing reflect his high social position, though his final appearance shows him in chains, his venerable appearance contrasting sharply with his degraded circumstances.
Story so far
BOOK 1The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire / Table of Contents with links in the HTML file to the two Project Gutenberg editions (12 volumes)
Appearances
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