236 Deliyannis
The Restoration of Cities in Ostrogothic Rhetoric
Variae 8.31 is only one of many letters in the Variae that praise cities as centres
of culture. Patronage of public buildings and infrastructure was an important
aspect of civilitas, a highly visible reminder of good government.8 Theoderic
promoted himself as a rebuilder of the infrastructure of Roman Italy, in the
tradition of Roman leaders of the past;9 he also encouraged wealthy Romans
to fund these works themselves.10 A letter in the Variae states that the most
worthy royal enterprise was the rebuilding of ancient cities, while another
describes a desire to renew the monuments of antiquity.11 La Rocca has use-
fully pointed out that Theoderic’s rhetoric about revival and restoration of
antiquitas was propaganda that, among other things, contrasted him with
immediately preceding rulers who had let the cities decay.12 Moreover, Kalas
has noted that the idea of restoration was not new to Theoderic, but had been
commemorated in inscriptions at Rome for the previous two centuries and
more, and was always intended to praise the present at the expense of the
immediate past.13 Regardless of whether Theoderic was doing something new
or traditional, the fact remains that cities were central to his concept of the
Roman society and culture that he sought to preserve.14
The Variae give pride of place to Rome, of which Cassiodorus has
Theoderic say:15
since he who wants to undertake the repair of ruins gives a gift to the
republic, especially in that city [Rome], where it is fitting that all buildings8 See Saitta, La civilitas di Teoderico, pp. 103–38; and La Rocca, “Una prudente maschera
‘Antiqua’ ”, p. 488.
9 See most recently Arnold, Theoderic and the Roman Imperial Restoration, pp. 198–200.
10 Saitta, La civilitas di Teoderico, pp. 103–38; Johnson, “Toward a History”.
11 Variae 1.28 and 4.51, cited by Johnson, “Toward a History”, p. 76. See also Variae 1.25, 2.7, 3.31
and 44, 4.51, and 7.15
12 La Rocca, “Una prudente maschera ‘Antiqua’ ”, p. 466.
13 Kalas, “Writing and Restoration in Rome”.
14 See also Marazzi in this volume.
15 Variae 3.29: “... quia confert magis rei publicae munus quisquis diruta maluerit suscipere
reparanda, in ea praesertim urbe, ubi cuncta dignum est constructa relucere, ne inter
tot decora moenium deformis appareat ruina saxorum. in aliis quippe civitatibus minus
nitentia sustinentur: in ea vero nec mediocre aliquid patimur, quae mundi principaliter
ore laudatur.” Cf. also Variae 3.30. See Arnold, Theoderic, pp. 201–30 and 218–24; Fauvinet-
Ranson, “Le devenire du patrimoine monumental romain”, notes that Theoderic treated
Rome like a museum. For Rome, see also Fauvinet-Ranson, Decor civitatis, pp. 226–55.