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connected to the same governmental department of the praetorian prefecture.35 They
exhibited a literary, erudite and educational interest in the distant past of Rome and
the Roman Empire for the purpose of furthering their personal careers. More impor-
tantly, these authors were in the same city of Constantinople at the same time; Malalas
from between AD 528 and AD 540 onward to the end of his life, Cassiodorus from ca.
AD 540 to AD 554. Lydus was a permanent resident of the city from AD 511 onwards,
with the sole exception of a visit to Cyprus before AD 536.36 Most significantly, both
John Malalas and Cassiodorus were present in the capital at exactly the same time
as Lydus began his teaching career (around AD 543). As such, the three authors as a
group shared many interests. This common outlook is exhibited in the fact that they
interacted with the heritage of Rome and the Roman Empire in a similar manner.
2. Amongst bureaucrats: the commonality of erudite themes
In addition to the similarities in their intellectual and social profiles, the three authors
examined here exhibit striking parallels in their treatment of different facets of the
Graeco-Roman distant past. A systematic overview of these parallels would surpass
the scope of this paper. Therefore, it suffices to take some examples which can prove
insightful in ascertaining how the three intellectuals used the Roman past to further
their own agendas. Such examples are their antiquarian analyses of the origin and
history of different offices of state, and especially their beloved praetorian prefecture.37
We also have the history and origin of different sciences and arts such as music, ge-
ometry, mathematics and astrology.38 The three authors also worked on the origin of

35 In this case we also have to take into consideration the differences between the impact and functioning
of the praetorian prefecture in the Eastern Roman Empire and the Ostrogothic Kingdom.

36 Bandy (1983), p. xiv, Maas (1992), p. 34,Treadgold (2007), p. 261.

37 On the different offices of state see Malalas: on the alytarch Chronographia XII 7, XII12, XII44, XII46;
on the amphitales Chronographia XII 9; on the angnstales Chronographia IX 18; on the candidatus Chro-
nographia XII lacuna (2x), XIII 46; on different comités Chronographia VII 9, XIII 4; on the consul
Chronographia II 8, VII 9, VII13-14, IX 3; on the cubicularii Chronographia X 21, XIV15; on the delegator
Chronographia XIII 4; on the Imperator Chronographia VI 29, VII 13, XI 3; on the patricians Chrono-
graphia XIV15; on thepraefectus urbi Chronographia XIII10; on the praepositi Chronographia XIV15; on
the praetorian prefect Chronographia VII 9, XIII 4, XIII10, XIII 38; on the scholarii Chronographia XII
lacuna (2x), XIII 46; on the secretary of Antioch Chronographia XII 8; on the spatharii Chronographia X
21; on the syriarch Chronographia XII 5; on the vernaculi Chronographia VII10-12; Lydus, de Magistra-
tibus passim, Cassiodorus: on the augurs Variae VI 2; on the cancellarius Variae XI 6; on different comités
Variae VI 7-9; on the consul Variae VI1-2; on the consularis Variae VI 20; on the cornicularius Variae XI
36; on the curiales Variae VI 3, IX 2; on the high priests Variae VI 2; on the Imperator Variae VI1; on the
iudex Variae III 27, XI 40; on the magister officiorum Variae VI 6; on the patricians Variae VI 2; on the
praefectus annonae Variae VI18, VII 8; on Cyc praefectus urbi Variae VI 4, VII 8; on the Praetorian Prefect
Variae VI 3, on priests Variae VI 2-3; on the quaestor Variae VI5; on the rectorprovinciae Variae VI 21; on
the rex Variae VI 2-3, VII 46.

38 On the history and origin of different sciences and arts see Malalas: on astronomy Chronographia I 5,1
7,1 ii, IV 4; on music Chronographia IV 3, IV 7; Lydus: on agriculture de Mensibus IV 71; on astronomy
de Ost ent is', on geometry de Mensibus IV 76; on medicine de Mensibus IV 142; on music de Mensibus IV
39, de Mensibus IV 36, de Mensibus IV 51, de Magistratibus 133; Cassiodorus: on agriculture Variae XII 25;