Nigidius Figulus (Roman Polymath)

Publius Nigidius Figulus, renowned senator-scholar of the late Roman Republic, wrote numerous works on a wide variety of topics, of which only 130 fragments survive. This is the first collection of academic articles on this mysterious figure, who not only was famous for his learning, but also reportedly engaged in a number of divinatory practices and went down in history as a “Pythagorean and magus” (thus St. Jerome). A group of international scholars provide a variety perspectives on Nigidius’ politics, philosophy, mythography, biology, religious studies, linguistic thought, divinatory activities, and reception, throwing new light on this fascinating Roman polymath.