Proba (fl. 4th c.)

views updated

Proba (fl. 4th c.)

Roman poet and aristocrat. Name variations: Faltonia Betitia Proba. Manuscripts call the author only Proba; name Faltonia Betitia is doubtful; dau. of Petronius Probianius (consul in 322); granddau. of Probus (consul in 310); m. Claudius Celcinus Adalphius (prefect of Rome in 351); children: C. Clodius Hermogenianus Olybrius (consul in 379) and Faltonius Alypius.

Born a pagan, converted to Christianity; wrote one poem that is extant, relating the life of Christ in terms borrowed from Virgil, in 694 hexameter lines.