Syrianus, Sopater, and Marcellinus (Συριανός, Σώπατρος, καὶ Μαρκελλῖνος)

Life Syrianus, Sopater, and Marcellinus were three grammarians active in the 4th century CE. They are known collectively for their scholarly work on the grammarian Aelius Herodian. No specific biographical details for the individuals survive. Their activity belongs to the late antique period of scholarship, which focused on the systematization of earlier Greek linguistic works.

Works Their sole attested work is a **Commentary on Herodian's Περὶ σχημάτων (Peri schēmatōn, On Figures)**. This surviving text is a commentary on the 2nd-century CE treatise concerning rhetorical figures by Aelius Herodian, representing a clear example of late antique grammatical exegesis [1].

Significance The trio’s significance lies in their role as preservers of the earlier grammatical tradition. Their collaborative commentary forms a link in the scholarly transmission of Greek technical knowledge from the Imperial period into later antiquity and the Byzantine era. It exemplifies the late antique focus on explicating canonical manuals rather than developing new theoretical systems.

Sources 1. Perseus Digital Library (Tufts University): https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0057:entry=su)riano/s