Arator’s Historia Apostolica,
published with papal approval and to great acclaim in 544, is an enthralling epic
poem which retells the story of the Acts
of Apostles, following clearly in the stylistic footsteps of Vergil and
Lucan. On the other hand, it is also a detailed commentary on what Arator
perceived to be the hidden meaning of the biblical text, divined and revealed
through the technique of allegorical interpretation and drawing upon the exegesis
of Origen, Ambrose, Augustine, and others. Narrative and commentary alternate
throughout the work to enthralling effect, as the apostles Peter and Paul
embark on their separate missionary adventures, eventually to be reunited in martyrdom in Nero’s Rome.



The translation is preceded by an introduction which begins with a re-evaluation
of the sources which detail Arator’s life, in particular taking a fresh look at
his relationship with his mentor Ennodius. There follow an examination of the
poet’s aims, methods and inspirations and a discussion of his attitudes to
heresies both past and present. The introduction ends with a ground-breaking
examination of the ‘afterlife’ of Arator’s poem, mapping the extent of his
influence, as evident in quotation and allusion, the copying of manuscripts,
and inclusion in medieval libraries from the sixth century to the eleventh.
Arator’s influence on several later authors, most notably the Venerable Bede,
is explored in more detail in a number of appendixes. Arator’s combination of
epic verse and mystical commentary was a heady and potent mix and ensured the
poem’s popularity, not least among the monks of Anglo-Saxon England and the
Carolingian continent.