# Petronius

> 1st century AD Roman courtier and author of the Satyricon (27–66)

**Wikidata**: [Q47180](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47180)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petronius)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/petronius

## Summary
Petronius was a 1st century AD Roman courtier, writer, politician, military personnel, poet, and philosopher, best known as the author of the *Satyricon*. Living from 27 AD to 66 AD, he served Ancient Rome and was recognized by the epithet "arbiter elegantiae." He is also known by the aliases Gaius Petronius Arbiter, Publius Petronius Niger, and Titus Petronius Niger.

## Biography
- **Born:** 27 AD
- **Nationality:** Ancient Rome
- **Known for:** Authoring the *Satyricon* and serving as a courtier
- **Employer(s):** Ancient Rome (inferred from citizenship and political/military roles)
- **Field(s):** Literature, Politics, Military, Philosophy

## Contributions
Petronius is credited with creating the *Satyricon*, a 1st century Latin work of fiction. This work is attributed to him and stands as his primary literary contribution, originating in the 1st century AD.

## FAQs
**What are the different names used for Petronius?**
Petronius is known by several aliases, including Gaius Petronius Arbiter, Publius Petronius Niger, Titus Petronius Niger, Petronius Arbiter, and Petronius Niger.

**What is the *Satyricon*?**
The *Satyricon* is a 1st century Latin work of fiction that is attributed to Petronius.

**What professions did Petronius hold?**
He was a courtier, writer, politician, military personnel, poet, and philosopher.

**When did Petronius live?**
Petronius was born in 27 AD and died in 66 AD.

**What does the title "arbiter elegantiae" signify?**
It is an epithet associated with Petronius, reflecting his role as a judge of elegance.

## Why They Matter
Petronius is significant for his authorship of the *Satyricon*, a key Latin work of fiction from the 1st century AD. His life as a courtier and "arbiter elegantiae" highlights the cultural and social dynamics of the Roman elite. His multifaceted career spanning politics, military service, and literature illustrates the diverse roles occupied by figures in Ancient Rome.

## Notable For
- Authorship of the *Satyricon*.
- Holding the epithet "arbiter elegantiae".
- Serving as a courtier in the 1st century AD.
- Being a citizen of Ancient Rome.
- Having a recorded lifespan of 27–66 AD.
- Being depicted in the image "Petronius Arbiter by Bodart 1707.jpg".

## Body
### Identity and Names
Petronius was a human, defined as any single member of *Homo sapiens*, the unique extant species of the genus *Homo*. He is identified by a variety of names and aliases, including Gaius Petronius Arbiter, Publius Petronius Niger, Titus Petronius Niger, Petronius Arbiter, and Petronius Niger.

### Life and Timeline
Born in 27 AD, Petronius lived during the era of Ancient Rome, a country that began growing on the Italian Peninsula from the 8th century BC. He died in 66 AD, marking a life that spanned the mid-1st century.

### Career and Occupations
Petronius engaged in multiple professional fields. As a writer, he was a person who used written words to communicate ideas and to produce literary works. He was also a poet, defined as a person who writes poetry, and a philosopher, a person with an extensive knowledge of philosophy. In the public sphere, he was a politician, a person who holds or seeks positions in government, and military personnel, comprising people who serve in an organized armed military force. Additionally, he served as a courtier.

### Literary Work
His most notable achievement is the *Satyricon*, a 1st century Latin work of fiction attributed to him. This work is a significant artifact of 1st-century literature.

### Cultural Role and Representation
Petronius bore the epithet "arbiter elegantiae." He is also the subject of visual art, specifically an image titled "Petronius Arbiter by Bodart 1707.jpg." His contributions and life are documented across numerous library and academic systems, reflecting his enduring historical presence.

## References

1. Concise Literary Encyclopedia
2. Integrated Authority File
3. Mirabile: Digital Archives for Medieval Culture
4. Library of the World's Best Literature
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. BnF authorities
7. CiNii Research
8. MusicBrainz
9. Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary
10. SNAC
11. Internet Speculative Fiction Database
12. Catalogue of the Library of the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas
13. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
14. [Petronius Arbiter | Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL33452A/Petronius_Arbiter)
15. Virtual International Authority File
16. [Source](https://www.bartleby.com/library/bios/index13.html)
17. CONOR.SI
18. Autoritats UB
19. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
20. Quora
21. Carnegie Hall linked open data
22. Enciclopedia Treccani
23. [LIBRIS. 2012](https://libris.kb.se/katalogisering/31fhjw1m23jg4j5)
24. [Source](https://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo/Petroniusz;3956312.html)
25. Virtual Study of Theatre Institute
26. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
27. CollectieGelderland
28. Provenio
29. HMML Authority File