Talk:Mallius Theodorus

Latest comment: 13 years ago by Llywrch in topic Manlius or Mallius?

Manlius or Mallius?

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The article Flavius Manlius Theodorus seems to be a duplicate, covering the same individual. Shouldn't they be merged? Dimadick (talk) 20:45, 22 July 2010 (UTC)Reply

Yes, it is clear that they should be merged -- but under which name? Looking at the archive.org copy of the Encyclopedia Britannica for volume 25 pg. 769, that source calls the consul of 399 Mallius Theodorus. However, John Matthews, Western Aristocracies and Imperial Court AD 364-425 (Oxford: Clarendon, 1975) pp. 216-219 calls him Manlius Theodorus. (It's clear that both refer to the same man -- writer, consul, associate of Claudian & Augustine.) Although Manlius is the more familiar & expected name (IIRC, Mallius is Latin for "apple" & who would use "apple" for a masculine name?), the inscription mentioned in the article reads Mallio Theodoro; there is a principle in textual studies of the less familiar form should always be preferred, although stonecutters are known to make mistakes in their inscriptions. Anyone have access to any other authoritative sources that can break this impasse, like the PLRE? (The first chance I get to consult a copy, I'll see if I can answer my own question.) -- llywrch (talk) 06:23, 30 September 2011 (UTC)Reply