Mamerti'nus
Works
The first piece in the collection of the
Panegyrici Veteres [see DREPANIUS], which usually bears the title,
Claudii Mamertini Panegyricus Maximiano Herclio dictus, was spoken on the 21st of April, in the year A. D. 289, at some city of Gaul, probably Treves, and is addressed to Maximianus Herculius, at that time actively engaged in preparations against Carausius.
It must be observed that the name
Mamertinus is altogether wanting in several of the best MSS., and it is doubtful whether it appears in any of the more ancient.
The second piece in the collection, which stands in printed editions as
Claudii Mamertini Panegyricus Genethliaecs Maximiano Augusto dictus, is in honour of the birthday of the emperor, and falls between the first of April, A. D. 291, and the first of March A. D. 292 (Clinton,
Fasti Rom. ad ann. 291).
In this case it is admitted that none of the more ancient MSS. present us with the name of
Mamertinus, but usually state that it is by the same author as the preceding, a conclusion fully warranted by the general tone, as well as by some peculiarities of expression, and indeed there seems to be in 100.5 a distinct allusion to the former discourse.
The tenth piece in the collection is inscribed,
Mamertini pro Consulatu Gratiarum Actio Juliano Augusto, belongs to A. D. 362, and was delivered at Constantinople, soon after the accession of Julian, by Claudius Mamertinus, consul for the year, who had previously held the offices of praefect of the Aerarium and praefect of Illyricum, manifestly a different person from the Claudius Mamertinus of the first two orations, if we admit the existence of an individual bearing that appellation as their author.
Further Information
See the dissertations prefixed to the edition of the
Panegyrici Veteres, by Schwarzius, 4to. Venet. 1728; the
Censura XII. Panegyricoram Veterumn in the 6th volume of the
Opuscula Academica of Heyne; and the other authorities cited under DREPANIUS.
[
W.R]
