Aelian (Claudius Aelianus), a Roman born ca. 170 CE at Praeneste,
was a pupil of the rhetorician Pausanias of Caesarea, and taught
and practised rhetoric. Expert in Attic Greek, he became a serious
scholar and studied history under the patronage of the Roman
empress Julia Domna. He apparently spent all his life in Italy
where he died after 230 CE.
Aelian's "On the Characteristics of Animals," in 17 books, is a
collection of facts and beliefs concerning the habits of animals
drawn from Greek authors and some personal observation. Fact,
fancy, legend, stories and gossip all play their part in a
narrative which is meant to entertain readers. If there is any
ethical motive, it is that the virtues of untaught yet reasoning
animals can be a lesson to thoughtless and selfish mankind. The
Loeb Classical Library edition of the work is in three volumes.
The "Historical Miscellany" (Loeb no. 486) is of similar nature.
In 14 books, it consists mainly of historical and biographical
anecdotes and retellings of legendary events. Some of Aelian's
material is drawn from authors whose works are lost.
Aelian's "Letters"--portraying the affairs and country ways of
a series of fictitious writers--offer engaging vignettes of rural
life. These are available in Loeb no. 383.
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