Calliopius ( grc-x-medieval, Καλλιόπιος, ) was a
Greek rhetor and official of the
Roman Empire.
Family and early life
Calliopius was a Greek nobleman from
Antioch. The parents of Calliopius are unknown, but he had some relationship to the sometime ''
quaestor sacri palatii''
Montius Magnus Montius Magnus (flourished 4th century AD, died 354) was a Roman politician.
Little is known of his origins, although he may have originated in Africa.Martindale, Jones & Morris (1971), pp. 535–536 At some point before 351 he served as a proconsu ...
, and was perhaps his son.
In his youth, he studied with Zenobius and although at birth he was a
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
, Calliopius became a
pagan
Paganism (from classical Latin ''pāgānus'' "rural", "rustic", later "civilian") is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions other than Judaism. ...
of the
ancient Greek religion
Religious practices in ancient Greece encompassed a collection of beliefs, rituals, and mythology, in the form of both popular public religion and cult practices. The application of the modern concept of "religion" to ancient cultures has been ...
. His date of birth is unknown and little is known on his early life.
Libanius and his political career
Calliopius became skilled in Rhetoric. Calliopius was friends with
Seleucus
Seleucus may refer to:
Monarchs and other people related to the Seleucid Empire
* Seleucus I Nicator (Satrap 311–305 BC, King 305 BC–281 BC), son of Antiochus and founder of the Seleucid Empire
* Seleucus II Callinicus (246–225 BC)
* Sele ...
,
Libanius and was a contemporary to the
Roman emperor Julian the Apostate
Julian ( la, Flavius Claudius Julianus; grc-gre, Ἰουλιανός ; 331 – 26 June 363) was Roman emperor from 361 to 363, as well as a notable philosopher and author in Greek. His rejection of Christianity, and his promotion of Neoplato ...
who ruled from November 361 until June 26, 363. He friendship with these three men went back to the early 350s. Calliopius had taught with Libanius as an assistant-teacher in
Antioch and
Constantinople. Calliopius was one of the correspondents to Libanius in which various letters between the both of them have survived.
During his time as an assistant teacher with Libanius, he may have served in an unknown advocate role. After, Calliopius held a minor post in the imperial chancellery. Either in 359 or in 360 he served as an ''assessor'' perhaps in
Euphratensis, as in 360 he was being prosecuted for his conduct as an assessor. In 360 he was made a
senator
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
, und in 362 Julian promoted him to governor (''
consularis'') of
Macedonia
Macedonia most commonly refers to:
* North Macedonia, a country in southeastern Europe, known until 2019 as the Republic of Macedonia
* Macedonia (ancient kingdom), a kingdom in Greek antiquity
* Macedonia (Greece), a traditional geographic reg ...
in 362.
[Martindale, Jones & Morris (1971), p. 174]
References
{{reflist
Sources
* A.H.M. Jones, J.R. Martindale & J. Morris, The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire: Volume 1, AD 260–395, Cambridge University Press, 1971
* Antioch as a Centre of Hellenic Culture, as Observed by Libanius, Liverpool University Press, 2001
* P. Moret & B. Cabouret, Sertorius, Libanios, iconographie: a propos de Sertorius, journée d'étude, Toulouse, 7 avril 2000
uivi deautour de Libanios, culture et société dans l'antiquité tardive : actes de la table ronde, Avignon, 27 avril 2000, Presses Univ. du Mirail, 2003
* Selected Letters of Libanius: From the Age of Constantius and Julian, Liverpool University Press, 2004
4th-century Romans
Roman governors of Macedonia
4th-century Greek people
Antiochian Greeks
4th-century writers
Ancient Greek rhetoricians
Late-Roman-era pagans
Correspondents of Libanius