Boethius
Roman philosopher and statesman
Boethius was a Roman senator and philosopher of the 6th century. He wrote The Consolation of Philosophy while in prison.
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Born in Rome, Italy
About Boethius
Boethius was born in Rome around 480 and became a senator by the age of 25. He served as a statesman in the Ostrogothic Kingdom and was later chosen as a personal advisor to King Theodoric the Great. He set out to translate the Greek classics into Latin and to reconcile Plato and Aristotle with Christian theology. He also wrote on music, mathematics and theology. He left the translation project unfinished, but his work helped preserve Aristotle's writings for the Renaissance. Around 523 Theodoric had him imprisoned, after he defended the consul Caecina Albinus against a charge of conspiracy. In prison he wrote The Consolation of Philosophy, a treatise on fortune, death and other subjects. He was executed in 524.