Aristides the Music Theorist (Ἀριστείδης Κοϊντιλιανός)

Life Aristides Quintilianus (Ἀριστείδης Κοϊντιλιανός) was a late antique Greek author active in the late third or early fourth century CE [1]. The epithet "Quintilianus" implies a possible link to the Roman rhetorician Quintilian, though this remains unconfirmed [1][2]. He is known only for his work on music theory and is distinguished from the second-century orator Aelius Aristides [3].

Works His sole surviving work is the comprehensive treatise On Music (Περὶ Μουσικῆς), which exists complete in three books [1][2][4].

Significance On Music is a vital source for late Roman harmonic theory, musical ethics (ethos), and the pedagogical and cosmological role of music [1][2]. The treatise synthesizes Pythagorean and Aristoxenian harmonics with Platonic and Neoplatonic philosophy, systematically detailing scales, intervals, and rhythms while emphasizing music's moral and psychological effects [1][4]. It is a key document for understanding the philosophical foundations of ancient music theory [2][4].

Sources 1. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Stanford University): https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristides-quintilianus/ 2. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics (Oxford University Press): https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-752 3. Perseus Digital Library (Tufts University): https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0062:entry=aristides-quintilianus-harpers 4. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: https://iep.utm.edu/aristides-quintilianus/