Musaeus the Grammarian (Μουσαῖος ὁ Γραμματικός) was a late antique poet active in the early 6th century CE, likely during the reign of Emperor Anastasius I [1]. The title “Grammarian” signifies his profession as a teacher of literature. Possibly a student of Nonnus of Panopolis, he was part of the Greek poetic culture in the Eastern Roman Empire, perhaps in Alexandria or Constantinople [1][2].

His only surviving work is the short epic Hero and Leander (Ἡρὼ καὶ Λέανδρος), a 343-line poem composed in Homeric hexameters [1][2].

Musaeus represents a late flourishing of the ancient Greek epic tradition. His polished narrative of the tragic love story maintained popularity in Byzantium and later profoundly influenced Renaissance literature, serving as a key example of sustained pagan mythological themes within a Christian era [1][2].

Sources 1. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics: https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-4272 2. Perseus Digital Library, Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aentry%3Dmusaeus-bio-2