Fabia'nus, Papi'rius
a Roman rhetorician and philosopher in the time of Tiberius and Caligula.
He was the pupil of Arellius Fuscus and of Blandus in rhetoric, and of Sextius in philosophy: and although much the younger of the two, he instructed Albutius Silas in eloquence. (Senec.
Coutror. ii. prooem. pp. 134-6, iii. p. 204, ed. Bipont.)
The rhetorical style of Fabianus is described by the elder Seneca (
Controv. iii. proem.), and he is frequently cited in the third book of
controversiac, and in the
Suasoriae. His early model in rhetoric was his instructor Arellius Fuscus; but he afterwards adopted a less ornate form of eloquence, though he never attained to perspicuity and simplicity. Fabiamus soon, however, quitted rhetoric for philosophy; and the younger Seneca places his philosophical works next to those of Cicero, Asinius Pollio, and Livy the historian. (Senec.
Epist. 100.)
The philosophical style of Fabianus is described in this letter of Seneca's, and in some points his description corresponds with that of the elder Seneca. (
Controv. ii. prooem.) Both the Senecas seem to have known, and certainly greatly esteemed Fabianus. (Cf.
Controv. iii. prooem. with
Epist. 11.) Fabianus was the author of a work entitled [Rerum ?]
Civilium; and his philosophical writings exceeded Cicero's in number. (Senec.
Epist. 100.)
He had also paid great attention to physical science, and is called by Pliny (
H. A. 36.15, s. 24)
rerum nature peritissimus. From Seneca (
Natur. Quaest. 3.27), he appears to have written on
Phlysics; and his works entitled
De Animalibus and
Causarumn Aturalium Libri are frequently referred toby Pliny (
H. N. generally in his Elenchos or summary of materials, i. ii. vii. ix. xi. xii. xiii. xiv. xv. xvii. xxiii. xxviii. xxxvi., and specially, but without mention of the particular work of Fabianus, 2.47.121, 2.102.223, 9.8.25, 12.4.20, 15.1.4, 23.11.62, 28.5.54).
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