# Symmachus

> Pope from 498 to 514

**Wikidata**: [Q160935](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160935)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Symmachus)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/symmachus

## Summary
Symmachus was a human and a Catholic priest who served as the Pope from 498 to 514. He is historically recognized as a religious leader and an author within the Catholic Church during the late 5th and early 6th centuries. His papacy is a documented historical event marking a specific era in ecclesiastical history.

## Biography
- **Born**: Approximately 460 (specific date and place not provided in source)
- **Nationality**: Not specified in source material
- **Education**: Not specified in source material
- **Known for**: Serving as Pope from 498 to 514 and authoring original works
- **Employer(s)**: Catholic Church
- **Field(s)**: Catholic priesthood, Authorship

## Contributions
Symmachus's primary contribution was his leadership as the Pope of the Catholic Church, a role he held for sixteen years from 498 until his death in 514. As an author, he produced original works, though specific titles of these writings are not detailed in the provided source material. His tenure is recorded as a distinct historical event, specifically the election of Symmachus as Pope. His legacy is preserved through various identifiers and references in academic and religious databases, including his depiction in the apse mosaic at Sant'Agnese fuori le mura in Rome.

## FAQs
**What were the dates of Symmachus's papacy?**
Symmachus served as Pope from the year 498 until his death on July 19, 514. This sixteen-year period represents his primary tenure as the head of the Catholic Church.

**How is Symmachus identified in historical records?**
He is identified by multiple unique identifiers across various databases, including the VIAF ID 0000000078206632 and the GND ID 118799533. His name appears in different languages and scripts, such as "Simmaco" in Italian and "Symmaque" in French.

**Where can visual representations of Symmachus be found?**
A notable visual representation of Pope Symmachus is the apse mosaic located in the church of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura in Rome. This artwork dates to a period after his death, with a specific reference to a 2016 image of the mosaic.

**What is the pronunciation of his name?**
The phonetic pronunciation of his name is recorded as ˈsym.ma.kʰus. This phonetic guide helps in the accurate verbalization of his name in historical contexts.

## Why They Matter
Symmachus matters because he provided continuity and leadership to the Catholic Church during a turbulent period in the late 5th and early 6th centuries. His election as Pope is a significant historical event that shaped the ecclesiastical hierarchy of the time. Without his tenure, the specific historical timeline of the papacy from 498 to 514 would be unaccounted for, and the associated religious and political developments of that era would lack a central figure. His existence as both a priest and an author contributes to the intellectual and spiritual heritage of the Catholic tradition, ensuring his name remains in historical records and artistic depictions like the Sant'Agnese mosaic.

## Notable For
- Serving as the Pope of the Catholic Church from 498 to 514.
- Being a human member of the species *Homo sapiens* and a unique extant species of the genus *Homo*.
- Holding the occupation of a Catholic priest.
- Acting as an author who wrote original works.
- Being depicted in the apse mosaic at Sant'Agnese fuori le mura in Rome.
- Having a recorded death date of July 19, 514.
- Possessing a birth year estimated around 460.
- Being associated with the historical event of his election as Pope.
- Having a phonetic pronunciation of ˈsym.ma.kʰus.
- Being referenced in numerous academic and library databases with unique identifiers (e.g., P213, P214, P227).

## Body

### Early Life and Identity
Symmachus was a human being, a single member of the species *Homo sapiens*, which is the unique extant species of the genus *Homo*. He was born approximately in the year 460, though the specific date and place of his birth are not detailed in the available source material. His identity is firmly established as a Catholic priest, a role that defined his life's work and spiritual vocation. He is also categorized as an author, indicating that he engaged in the creation of original written works. His name is phonetically recorded as ˈsym.ma.kʰus, reflecting the linguistic conventions of his time and region.

### Papal Tenure and Leadership
The most significant period of Symmachus's life was his service as the Pope, a role he held from 498 to 514. This sixteen-year tenure is a well-documented historical fact, marking a specific era in the history of the Catholic Church. His election as Pope is recorded as a distinct historical event, often referenced in databases as "SymmachusElectedPope." During this time, he served as the head of the Catholic Church, providing leadership and guidance to the faithful. His death occurred on July 19, 514, bringing an end to his papacy.

### Artistic and Historical Legacy
Symmachus's legacy is visually preserved in the apse mosaic located in the church of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura in Rome. This artwork serves as a lasting tribute to his papacy and is referenced in modern contexts, such as a 2016 photograph of the mosaic. His name and story are preserved across a wide array of academic, library, and historical databases. He is associated with numerous unique identifiers, including the VIAF ID 0000000078206632, the GND ID 118799533, and the LCCN nr95041564. These identifiers ensure his presence in global knowledge systems, linking him to various languages and scripts, such as "Simmaco" in Italian and "Symmaque" in French.

### Academic and Database Presence
The historical record of Symmachus is extensive, with his entry appearing in 77 different sitelinks across various platforms. He is listed in the Wikidata database with the description "Pope from 498 to 514" and is associated with the Wikipedia title "Pope Symmachus." His profile includes a wide range of properties, from his birth and death dates to his phonetic pronunciation and various catalog numbers. These properties include P18 (image), P213 (VIAF), P214 (ISNI), P227 (GND), and many others, each serving to uniquely identify and categorize him within different information systems. The sheer number of these identifiers underscores the importance of his historical figure and the effort to maintain accurate records of his life and work.

### Linguistic and Cultural Variations
Symmachus's name appears in various forms across different languages and cultures, reflecting his widespread recognition. In Italian, he is known as "Simmaco" or "Papa Simmaco," while in French, he is referred to as "Symmaque" or "Saint-Symmaque." These variations are documented in numerous databases, ensuring that his identity is accessible to speakers of different languages. The phonetic transcription ˈsym.ma.kʰus provides a standardized way to pronounce his name, bridging the gap between different linguistic traditions. This linguistic diversity highlights the global impact of his papacy and the enduring nature of his historical presence.

## References

1. Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani
2. BeWeB
3. Catholic-Hierarchy.org
4. monumenta.ch
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. Catholic Encyclopedia
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. Czech National Authority Database
9. CERL Thesaurus
10. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
11. Dizionario di Storia
12. FactGrid
13. HMML Authority File