# Quintus Aurelius Symmachus

> consul of the Roman Empire 391, orator (340-402)

**Wikidata**: [Q355720](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q355720)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quintus_Aurelius_Symmachus)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/quintus-aurelius-symmachus

## Summary
Quintus Aurelius Symmachus was a prominent Roman statesman, orator, and writer who lived from 340 to 402 AD. He served as the consul of the Roman Empire in 391 and was a leading figure in the political and literary life of late antiquity. His career exemplified the intersection of high government office, rhetorical skill, and literary production in Ancient Rome.

## Biography
- Born: 340 (specific place not provided in source material)
- Nationality: Ancient Rome
- Education: Not specified in source material
- Known for: Serving as consul of the Roman Empire in 391 and his work as an orator and writer
- Employer(s): Ancient Rome (served in high government offices as a statesperson and politician)
- Field(s): Politics, Rhetoric, Literature

## Contributions
Based on the provided source material, specific titles of papers, products, or companies founded by Quintus Aurelius Symmachus are not listed. However, his contributions are defined by his roles and activities within the Roman Empire:
- **Consulship**: He held the high office of consul in the year 391, a significant political achievement in the Roman Empire.
- **Oratory**: He practiced the art of rhetoric, serving as a public speaker and contributing to the discourse of his time.
- **Literary Production**: As a writer, he produced literary works, utilizing written words to communicate ideas within the field of literature.
- **Political Leadership**: He engaged in politics and group decision-making activities, functioning as a statesperson and politician in high government offices.

## FAQs
**What was Quintus Aurelius Symmachus's primary role in the Roman Empire?**
He was a statesman and politician who reached the highest level of office by serving as consul in 391. His career was also defined by his skills as an orator and his contributions to literature.

**What fields of expertise did Symmachus operate in?**
Symmachus was active in the fields of politics, rhetoric, and literature. He combined his role as a civil servant with the artistic and persuasive arts of public speaking and writing.

**When did Quintus Aurelius Symmachus live?**
He lived from 340 to 402 AD, a period during which he served as a consul and was active as a writer and orator in Ancient Rome.

**Was Symmachus involved in military affairs?**
The provided source material lists "military personnel" as a related concept but does not explicitly state that Symmachus served in an organized armed military force. His documented roles focus on his civilian government service and rhetorical work.

## Why They Matter
Quintus Aurelius Symmachus represents the archetype of the late Roman elite who balanced political power with cultural production. His significance lies in his embodiment of the "three ancient arts of discourse," specifically rhetoric, which was central to Roman governance and social cohesion. Without his contributions as a consul and orator, the historical record of Roman political life in the late 4th century would lack a key example of how high office and literary skill intersected. His work helps define the nature of "statesperson" and "politician" in the context of Ancient Rome, illustrating the activities associated with group decisions and civil service in high government offices.

## Notable For
- Serving as the consul of the Roman Empire in 391.
- Being recognized as a distinguished orator and public speaker.
- Contributing to the literary arts as a writer in Ancient Rome.
- Holding high government offices as a statesperson and politician.
- Practicing the art of persuasion (rhetoric) as one of the three ancient arts of discourse.
- Living during the critical period of 340–402 AD in the history of Ancient Rome.

## Body

### Early Life and Identity
Quintus Aurelius Symmachus was a human being born in 340 AD within the context of Ancient Rome. He is identified as a member of the genus *Homo sapiens* and is categorized as a writer, politician, and orator. His life spanned from 340 to 402, a period that saw significant developments in the Roman Empire. He is also known by the aliases Symmachus and Símaco.

### Political Career and Public Service
Symmachus's career was deeply rooted in the political activities of Ancient Rome. He served as a politician, engaging in activities associated with group decisions. His most notable political achievement was his appointment as consul of the Roman Empire in 391. This role placed him among the highest-ranking civil servants, fitting the definition of a statesperson. His work involved holding and seeking positions in government, demonstrating his commitment to the political structure of his time.

### Rhetoric and Oratory
A defining characteristic of Symmachus was his mastery of rhetoric, the art of persuasion recognized as one of the three ancient arts of discourse. He operated as an orator, functioning as a public speaker. This skill set was integral to his identity and his effectiveness in his political roles. The source material distinguishes his role as an orator from that of a conference speaker, highlighting his specific function in the public sphere of Ancient Rome.

### Literary Contributions
Symmachus was also a writer who used written words to communicate ideas and produce literary works. His contributions fall under the polysemous term of literature, which refers to a written art form and the set of all literary works. While specific titles are not detailed in the provided text, his status as a writer indicates a significant output in the literary field. This dual capacity as both a political leader and a literary figure underscores the cultural expectations of the Roman elite.

### Historical Context and Legacy
The life of Quintus Aurelius Symmachus is situated within the history of Ancient Rome, a country that began growing on the Italian Peninsula from the 8th century BC. His activities reflect the complex interplay between politics, literature, and rhetoric in the late Roman period. As a figure with a sitelink count of 37, he remains a documented and significant entity in historical records. His legacy is preserved through his identification as a consul, orator, and writer, providing a snapshot of the intellectual and political life of the 4th and early 5th centuries.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Czech National Authority Database
3. Library of the World's Best Literature
4. International Standard Name Identifier
5. BnF authorities
6. CiNii Research
7. CONOR.SI
8. Documenta Catholica Omnia
9. Sapere Encyclopedia
10. Trove
11. LIBRIS
12. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
13. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
14. [Source](https://www.bartleby.com/library/bios/index15.html)
15. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
16. Enciclopedia Treccani
17. Dizionario di Storia
18. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
19. HMML Authority File
20. Digital Scriptorium Catalog