Intellectual Culture And Literary Practices 321
Intellectual Life: Centres, Careers, Interests
Cities of Ostrogothic Italy such as Ravenna, Rome, and Milan remained impor-
tant centres of education, culture, and intellectual life.20 It was there at the
royal court, in schools led by famous teachers, and in circles formed around
influential people that young men advanced their careers, further pursued
their intellectual interests, and made important connections.
Ravenna, Theoderic’s fast-growing capital, was a centre of royal administra-
tion and vibrant culture. Like the great emperors of the past, Theoderic pur-
sued an extensive programme of building and renovation throughout Italy,
but Ravenna and Rome especially benefited from his attention.21 Theoderic
and his family appear to have shared the education and culture of their aristo-
cratic Roman subjects. Theoderic could hardly have been an illiteratus, as the
Anonymus Valesianus claimed. During the decade that he spent as a young hos-
tage at the imperial court in Constantinople (where he was sent when he was
eight) he must have received an appropriate education, even if Cassiodorus
and Ennodius exaggerated the depth of his learning and extent of his intellec-
tual interests.22 According to Cassiodorus, Theoderic’s daughter Amalasuentha
could deliver skilful orations in Greek, Latin, and Gothic: “she surpasses all in
their own languages, and is equally wonderful in each”.23 Theoderic’s nephew
Theodahad was reportedly interested in philosophy.24 Amalasuentha also took
care of her son’s classical literary education, provoking strong objections from
her Gothic advisors. As Procopius reported, the Gothic notables reproached
Amalasuentha for teaching Athalaric letters instead of training him in arms.
They reminded Amalasuentha that her father Theoderic would never allow
any Goths to send their children to school and that he had become a great
king even though he had never heard of letters. Thus they insisted that the
young prince be reared more “in keeping with the customs of the barbarians”.
20 The economic and social situation in late antique cities has been much debated, see
Marazzi’s chapter in this volume. On culture see Riché, Education and Culture, pp. 24–31;
Liebeshuetz, Decline and Fall, pp. 318–41; and Deliyannis in this volume.
21 Johnson, “Toward a History”; Cavallo, “La cultura a Ravenna”; Hen, Roman Barbarians,
pp. 35–7; Deliyannis, Ravenna, pp. 106–200; also Deliyannis in this volume.
22 Anonymus Valesianus 12.61 and 14.79; Cassiodorus, Variae 9.24, p. 377; Ennodius,
Panegyricus 3; Riché, Education and Culture, pp. 57–8; Moorhead, Theoderic, pp. 104–5;
Hen, Roman Barbarians, pp. 37–9; Vitiello, Il principe, especially pp. 22–44; idem,
“Nourished at the Breast of Rome”.
23 Cassiodorus, Variae 11.1.6, trans. p. 146.
24 Vitiello, Theodahad, pp. 24–31.