358 Johnson
how Theoderic saw his role as patron. A letter from his grandson Athalaric
to Cassiodorus states that Theoderic sought “to make himself equal to the
ancients”22 and another reveals his desire “to bring back all things to their for-
mer state”.23
There is a distinct awareness of the concept of antiquity versus modernity
in the culture of the Theoderican court. First, the antiquarianism expressed in
the apparent cognizance of the ancient world speaks of the self-awareness of
living in a different epoch. Interestingly, it is at the end of the 5th century that
the word modernus first appears; Cassiodorus then uses it seven times in the
Variae, often to differentiate the contemporary from the ancient.24 The ancient
is not only recognized, but held in esteem with the admiration of the ancient
being expressed in two ways. First is in the restoration of the old, when there
was a reason to restore and when the ability to do so was present. One of the
roles of a Roman emperor was to construct new public buildings and take care
of older ones, a role that, as mentioned, Theoderic also embraced. In one let-
ter it is pointed out that “most worthy of royal attention is the rebuilding of
ancient cities” and another expresses the king’s desire to “preserve the monu-
ments of antiquity.”25 Similarly, the king states, “Indeed it is our intention to
build new things, but even more to protect ancient things”.26 The form letter
composed by Cassiodorus orders the cura palatii to study Euclidian geometry
and to “see that the new work harmonizes with the old”, especially relevant in
this situation in which an older palace at Ravenna was being remodelled and
expanded under Theoderic.27
Another way this antiquarianism was expressed is found in the interpreta-
tion of how the ancient might benefit the modern. So the architectus publico-
rum of Rome was instructed to study the extant monuments of ancient Rome
for inspiration.28 At times it was no longer possible to renew ruined Roman
buildings, but their materials could be salvaged and reused in profitable
ways. Several letters in the Variae contain instructions for sending materials
to Ravenna. The people of Astuna were ordered to send columns and lapides
22 Variae 9.24; ed. Mommsen 290; ed. Fridh, 377.
23 Variae 3.51, ed. Mommsen 95; ed. Fridh, 119.
24 Kiilerich, “Antiquus et modernus”.
25 Variae 1.28, ed. Mommsen, p. 29; ed. Fridh, p. 35; and Variae 4.51 ed. Mommsen, p. 139 ed.
Fridh, p. 179.
26 Variae 3.9.1; Bjornlie, Politics, p. 244.
27 Variae 7.5; ed. Mommsen p. 204; ed. Fridh, p. 264.
28 Variae 7.15 ed. Mommsen, p. 211. ed. Fridh, p. 274.