Flavius Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator (c. 485 - c. 585), commonly known as Cassiodorus, was a Roman statesman and great writer, serving in the administration of Theodoric the Great, king of the Ostrogoths. Senator was part of his surname not his rank. Life Cassiodorus was born at Scylletium (Squillace) in southern Italy, of a family that was apparently of Syrian origin. He began his career as councillor to his father, the governor of Sicily, and made a name for himself while still very y… (More on Cassiodorus)