John Lydus

John Lydus, a 6th-century Byzantine scholar, was a Roman author who wrote in Greek, specifically Greek and Latin. He is known for his works on Roman antiquities, including "On the Magistracies of the Roman State" and "On the Months". Lydus was a Latin teacher in Constantinople and served in various administrative positions before retiring to write.
John the Lydian

Here's a more detailed look at John Lydus:

Background:

John Lydus was a 6th-century Byzantine author and civil servant, likely from Philadelphia in Lydia, known as John the Lydian. He was well-educated in Latin and Greek, and his works reflect both his Roman heritage and his Byzantine context.

Career:

He served as a Latin teacher, an excerptor in the prefecture, a secretary in the imperial palace, and eventually held a professorship at Constantinople.

Works:

John Lydus wrote three works, all in Greek, that have been preserved:

• De Mensibus (On the Months): A history of Roman festivals and the Roman calendar, including information on mythology, astronomy, and religious practices.
• De Magistratibus Reipublicae Romanae (On the Magistracies of the Roman State): An account of the Roman magistracies, particularly valuable for understanding the administrative details of the time of Justinian I.
• De Ostentis (On Celestial Signs): A work on divination and astrology