A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

Smith, William

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890

an eminent physician, who, however, is chiefly known by his being the father of the poet of the same name, from whose works almost all the events of his life are to be learned. He was a native of Cossio Vasatum (the modern Bazas), but removed to Burdigala (Bourdeaux). He married Aemilia Aeonia, with whom he lived thirty-six years, and by whom he had four

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children, two sons, Decius Magnus Ausonius and Avitianus, and two daughters, Aemilia Melania and Julia Dryadia. He was appointed praefect of Illyricum by the emperor Valentinian. (A. D. 364-375.) He died at the age either of eighty-eight (Auson. Parent. 1.4) or ninety (Id. Epiced. 5.61), after having enjoyed perfect health both of body and mind. If he at all resembled the description given of him by his son, he must have been a most remarkable man, as almost every intellectual and moral excellence is attributed to him. He wrote some medical works, which are not now extant.

[W.A.G]