Censorinus (fl. c. 238) was aRomangrammarian and miscellaneous writer.
From its grammatical form, Censorinus is presumably hiscognomen, the shared surname of a branch of a Roman family (gens). The cognomenCensorinus would typically be used by those descended from,adopted by, or related by prominentmarriage to someone who had held the office ofcensor. Censorinus'sgiven name (praenomen) andfamily name (nomen) are unknown, although theMarcii Censorini were by far the most prominent family to use the cognomen. The author is sometimes distinguished asCensorinus the Grammarian (Censorinus Grammaticus).
Little is known of Censorinus, although he lived during the 3rd century and apparently dedicatedDe Die Natali to his patron Quintus Caerellius as a birthday gift.[1]
Censorinus was the author of a lost workDe Accentibus as well as the survivingDe Die Natali.[2]
De Die Natali[a] (Latin for "On the Natal Day" or "On the Birthday") orOpusculum de Die Natali ("Little Work on the Birthday") was apparently written in 238 for the birthday of Censorinus's patron Quintus Caerellius. The contents are of a varied character: the natural history of man, the influence of the stars andgenii, music,religious rites,astronomy, the doctrines of theGreek philosophers, andantiquarian subjects. The second part deals with chronological and mathematical questions, and has been of great service in determining the principal epochs of ancient history. The whole is full of curious and interesting information. The style is clear and concise, although somewhatrhetorical, and theLatinity—for the period—good. The chief authorities used wereVarro andSuetonius. Some scholars, indeed, hold that the entire work is practically an adaptation of the lostPratum of Suetonius. The fragments of a workDe Naturali Institutione, dealing with astronomy,geometry,music, andversification, and usually printed with theDe Die Natali of Censorinus, are not by him. Part of the original manuscript, containing the end of the genuine work, and the title and name of the author of the fragment are lost.[1]
A brightcrater in theSea of Tranquility on the Moon has been named after him.
{{citation}}:Missing or empty|title= (help).{{citation}}:Missing or empty|title= (help).{{citation}}:Missing or empty|title= (help).
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Censorinus".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 662.| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| People | |
| Other | |
 | This ancient Roman biographical article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
