The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius, 1695

Boethius (Anicii Manlii Severini Boethii).  CONSOLATIONIS PHILOSOPHIAE LIBROS QUINQUE.  INTERPRETATIONE ET NOTIS ILLUSTRAVIT.  Edited by Petrus Callyus.  Paris:  Cum Previlegio Regis, 1695, (38) + 352 + 54 (index) + 3 pp, quarto.  Frontice piece and 2 engravings and numerous intials and head and tail pieces.  Engraved armorial bookplate of Sir Francis Wood, Bart.  Contemporary morocco, edges rubbed, nicely rebacked with original label laid down on the spine, slight foxing, otherwise a very good copy.

Boethius (ca. 480–524 or 525) was a Christian philosopher of the early 6th century. He was born in Rome to an ancient and important family which included emperors Petronius Maximus and Olybrius.   His father, Flavius Manlius Boethius, was consul in 487.  Boethius himself was consul in 510 in the kingdom of the Ostrogoths.  In 522 he saw his two sons become consuls. Boethius was executed by King Theodoric the Great, who suspected him of conspiring with the Byzantine Emperor. It may be possible to link his work to the game of Rithmomachia.

The Consolation of Philosophy is Boethius' major work.  He, most likely, wrote it while in exile under house arrest or in prison while awaiting his execution, but his lifelong project was a deliberate attempt to preserve ancient classical knowledge, particularly philosophy.

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