Messius Phoebus Severus

Flavius Messius Phoebus Severus^[1] (floruit 469-470) was a Roman politician and philosopher. He was appointed consul with Flavius Iordanes for 470.

Biography

Born in Rome,^[2] he studied at the school of the platonic philosopher Proclus, in Alexandria; among the other students there were the Pagan poet Pamprepius (who was instrumental in the revolt of Illus), the military officer Marcellinus (later semi-autonomous commander in Illyricum), the noble Anthemius (Consul and Western Roman Emperor), and Illustrius Pusaeus (Praetorian prefect of the East in 465 and Consul in 467).^[3] During this period, a pause in his career after he had become disillusioned with public life, he received the visit of some Brahmins and of other scholars who were interested in his rich library.^[4]

In 467/469 Severus returned to Rome, where the Western Emperor Anthemius elevated him to the honour of the consulate in the year 470, as well as gave him the rank of Patricius and the office of Praefectus urbi. According to Damascius, Severus and Anthemius had a secret plan to restore the Pagan cults.^[5] During his office, he restored parts of the Colosseum.^[6]

Notes

1. The names "Messius Phoebus Severus" are attested by inscriptions CIL VI, 32189 and on an ivory tablet; "Messius Phoeb[us]" is attested on inscriptions CIL VI, 32091, CIL VI, 32092, CIL VI, 32188; the name "Flavius Severus" is present on CIL X, 1343.
2. Damascius, Vita Isidori in the Epitome by Photius, 9,64 fragment 6.
3. O'Meara, p. 21.
4. Damascius, in Photius and in Suidas.
5. Damascius, Vita Isidori in the Epitome by Photius, cited in MacGeorge, p. 52.
6. CIL VI, 32091 and CIL VI, 32188

Bibliography

• MacGeorge, Penny, Late Roman Warlords, Oxford University Press, 2002, ISBN 0-19-925244-0
• Martindale, John, John R. Morris, "Fl. Messius Phoebus Severus 19" PLRE II, (Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire Vol. II A.D. 395-527)
• O'Meara, Dominic, Platonopolis: Platonic Political Philosophy in Late Antiquity, Oxford University Press, 2003, ISBN 0-19-925758-2