Pompeius Grammaticus, also known as Pompeius the Grammarian, was a Latin grammarian of the fifth century, author of a Commentary on Donatus's grammar (Commentum artis Donati).
Biography Not much is known of Pompeius' life. He taught in Africa at the end of the fifth or at the very beginning of the sixth century.R.A. Kaster, Guardians of Language: The Grammarian and Society in Late Antiquity (coll. “Transformation of the classical heritage”, 11), University of California Press, 1988, repr. 1997, c. IV "Pompeius", pp. 139 and 343-344. Pompeius Grammaticus must be located after Servius, whom he uses, and before Isidore of Seville, who uses him. Everything we know about him is in fact deduced from his work.
Work Pompeius is known for his commentary on Donatus, centered on the Ars maior. This commentary was intended for school education, as shown by the care taken in explaining even the most basic points.R.A. Kaster, Guardians of Language: The Grammarian and Society in Late Antiquity (coll. “Transformation of the classical heritage”, 11), University of California Press, 1988, repr. 1997, c. IV "Pompeius", p. 343.
A commentary on Virgil and a commentary on Terence were sometimes attributed to him, but these are mere hypotheses.See discussion at Kaster, Guardians of Language: The Grammarian and Society in Late Antiquity (coll. “Transformation of the classical heritage”, 11), University of California Press, 1988, repr. 1997, c. IV "Pompeius", pp. 344-346.
Editions Heinrich Keil, Grammatici latini, t. 5, Leipzig, Teubner, 1868, p. 95-312; reprint Hidesheim, Olms, 1961.
Notes and References
Bibliography Louis Holtz, « Tradition et diffusion de l'œuvre grammaticale de Pompée, commentateur de Donat », Revue de philologie, 45, 1971, p. 48-83. Robert A. Kaster, Guardians of Language: The Grammarian and Society in Late Antiquity (coll. Transformation of the classical heritage, 11), University of California Press, 1988, réimpr. 1997, chap. IV « Pompeius », p. 139-168 and pp. 343-346 n° 125. (Online.)
External links Facsimile of the manuscript Pal. Lat. 1756 of the Vatican Library.