Tiberianus (poet)

Tiberianus was a late Latin writer and poet, surviving only in fragments, who experimented with various metrical schemes.

He is a possible candidate for the authorship of the Pervigilium Veneris.^[1]

Identity

Tiberianus has traditionally been identified with Annius Tiberianus, the "eloquent" [disertus] governor of Gaul in 336 AD mentioned by Jerome.^[1]

An earlier candidate is however the prefect of Rome 303–4, Iunius Tiberianus.^[2]

Known poems

Four poems (and a fragmentary fifth on a sunset) are known to have been written by Tiberianus:^[3] Spring Day [Amnis ibat]; an attack on the power of gold; a hymn; and a description of a dying bird.^[4]

Other writings

• Fulgentius attributed to Tiberianus the writing of prosimetra, dialogues in verse and prose (from which the extant poems may have been taken).^[5]
• E. Baehrens in the 19th century suggested Tiberianus as the author of the Pervigilium Veneris,^[1] something metrical parallels with Amnis ibat would seem to support.^[6] Alan Cameron in the 20th century strengthened the case for his authorship through thematic and vocabulary parallels.^[7]

Influences

Tiberianus was influenced by authors such as Ovid, Statius, Calpurnius Siculus, and the prose of Apuleius.^[3]

Read and quoted by Fulgentius and Augustine,^[8] his metrical experiments may also have influenced such Christian poets as Hilary of Poitiers and Prudentius.^[9]

See also

• Ausonius
• Paulinus of Nola