Aulus Gellius

views updated

Aulus Gellius

123?-170

Roman writer and lawyer who spent a year in Athens compiling information for the composition of Noctes Atticae (Attic nights), a compendium on ancient culture and knowledge. It is comprised of 20 books, of which all but part of one survive, and is an example of the Roman commonplace book of general antiquarian knowledge. Noted for its compilation of quotations from lost ancient works, Noctes Atticae also contains a fairly important survey of physical science knowledge, including physics, natural phenomena, and astronomy.

More From encyclopedia.com