Ἀνώνυμος Σεγυεριανός (Anonymous Seguerianus)

Life The Anonymous Seguerianus is the conventional modern name for an otherwise unknown rhetorician of the Roman Imperial period. The name derives from a manuscript note attributing the sole surviving work to “Sergianus” or “Seguerianus” [1]. Based on the treatise’s content and style, scholars date the author to the first half of the 3rd century CE [1][2]. The work’s nature as a doctrinal compilation suggests the author was a teacher or practitioner operating within the standard Greco-Roman educational system.

Works The single extant work is the rhetorical handbook Περὶ στάσεων (On Issues). It is a compilation focusing on the theory of stasis (the central issue of a judicial case), summarizing doctrines from earlier rhetoricians such as Hermagoras of Temnos [1][2].

Significance The author’s significance lies in the preservation of On Issues. This treatise is a valuable source for Hellenistic rhetorical theory, particularly for transmitting the influential but fragmentary doctrines of Hermagoras [1][2]. It serves as a crucial link illustrating how classical rhetorical precepts were systematized and taught during the Roman Empire.

Sources 1. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Plato.stanford.edu): https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/byzantine-philosophy/#Rhe (Mentions the Anonymous Seguerianus as a source for Hermagorean stasis theory) 2. Perseus Digital Library (Tufts University): https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0062:entry=hermagoras-harpers (Entry for Hermagoras cites the Anonymous Seguerianus as a source for his doctrines)