Extract

Virius Nicomachus (4) Flavianus (c. 340–94 ce), Roman senator, who with Vettius Agorius *Praetextatus and his close friend and associate Q. Aurelius *Symmachus (2) was a champion of the old *paganism. After a distinguished public career—he was *vicarius of Africa in 376, and under *Theodosius(2) I quaestor sacri palatii (388–90; see quaestor, end), and praetorian prefect of Italy and Illyricum (390–2)—he wholeheartedly supported the usurper *Eugenius, under whom he was also praetorian prefect and conducted a full-scale pagan revival. On Eugenius' defeat by Theodosius he committed suicide. His reputation was restored in 431 through the influence of his son and grandson (ILS 2948). He was the author of Annales dedicated to Theodosius, which have often been seen as a source for *Ammianus Marcellinus and other late 4th-cent. writers, but the scope of this work is entirely unknown. It is also debated whether he or Praetextatus was the ‘prefect’ attacked by the author of the anonymous Carmen contra paganos (Cod.