238 Deliyannis
What benefit is there to be gained from one who desires to take posses-
sion of public property? This is fitting only if a squalid property is trans-
ferred to a better appearance... act thus... so that you may deserve to be
praised as a good citizen, if you beautify the appearance of your city.As a formula, this letter indicates the idea that it was not only the ruler who
was supposed to adorn or restore cities, but also the good citizen.24 As already
mentioned, one point of these accounts is to emphasize the decay of the
Roman Empire under previous rulers and its restoration under Theoderic.
In addition to the letters in the Variae, contemporary texts written
about Theoderic emphasize his building activity as an element of his good
governance.25 Cassiodorus in his Chronica says that “in his happy reign many
cities were renovated, strong forts were founded, marvellous palaces rose up,
and ancient miracles were surpassed by his great works”.26 Ennodius, in his
panegyric to Theoderic, says “I see unhoped-for splendor rising from the ashes
of cities, and palatial roofs shining everywhere under the plenitude of civilitas”. 27
The Anonymus Valesianus calls him “a lover of construction and restorer of
cities”, and lists his constructions at Ravenna, Pavia, and Verona.28 The por-
trayal of Theoderic as a builder was also a convincing indicator of his greatness
for later historians. Fredegar, a Frankish chronicler writing in the 7th century,
cites an earlier biography of Theoderic to say that “all the cities that he ruled he
restored and fortified most ingeniously with wonderful works.”29
decorem sumat quod neglectum incuriosa vetustate iacuerat, quatenus boni civis laudem
invenire merearis, si faciem tuae civitatis ornaveris.”
24 The concept of reusing materials from ruined buildings to beautify the city is also found
in Roman law; see Dubouloz, “Acception et défense”. Cf. also Variae 8.30 and Variae 1.21.1.
25 See especially Fauvinet-Ranson, Decor civitatis, pp. 261–82.
26 Cassiodorus, Chronica, a. 500.
27 Ennodius, Panegyric 11.
28 Anonymus Valesianus 71: “Hic aquae ductum Ravennae restauravit, quem princeps
Traianus fecerat, et post multa tempora aquam introduxit. Palatium usque ad perfectum
fecit, quem non dedicavit. Portica circa palatium perfecit. Item Veronae thermas et pala-
tium fecit et a porta usque ad palatium porticum addidit. Aquae ductum, quod per multa
tempora destructum fuerat, renovavit et aquam intromisit. Muros alios novos circuit civi-
tatem. Item Ticino palatium, thermas, amphitheatrum, et alios muros civitatis fecit. Sed
et per alias civitates multa beneficia praestitit.”
29 Anonymus Valesianus 70; Fredegar, Chronica 2.57 (MGH SRM 2, p. 82): “Civitates universas
quas regebat miri operis restaurare et munire sollertissime fecit. Palatia quoque splende-
dissime Ravennae urbis, Veronae et Papiae, quod Ticinum cognomentum est, fabricare
iussit. Tantae prosperitatis post regnum tenuit, pacem cum gentibus vicinas habens, ut