A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

(Ἀνναῖος Κορνοῦτος), one of the commentators on Aristotle, concerning whose life but few particulars are known. The work of Diogenes Laertius is believed to have contained a life of Cornutus, which, however, is lost. (Salmas. Exercit. Plin. p. 888, &c.) Our principal sources of information are Suidas (s. v. Κορνοῦτος)--where, however, only the last words of the article refer to the philosopher, and all the rest to Cornutus the historian--and Eudocia (p. 273). Cornutus was born at Leptis in Libya, and came, probably in the capacity of a slave, into the house of the Annaei, which was distinguished for its love of literary pursuits. The Annaei emancipated him (whence his name Annaeus), and he became the teacher and friend of the poet Persius, on whose intellectual culture and development he exercised a very great influence. He was sent into exile by Nero, for having too freely criticised the literary attempts of the emperor. (D. C. 62.29.) This happened, according to Hieronymus in his Chronicle, in A. D. 68. The account of Dio Cassius furnishes a characteristic feature of the defiance peculiar to the Stoics of that time, to whom Cornutus also belonged, as we see from the fifth satire of Persius. That he was a man of very extensive knowledge is attested by the authority of Dio Cassius, as well as by the works he wrote.

[A.S]