Rufinus (poet)

Rufinus (Greek: Ῥουφῖνος) is the author of approximately thirty-eight epigrams, found in the fifth book of the Greek Anthology. When he was active is unknown. He probably postdated the Garland of Philip of Thessalonica, published under Nero, and Alan Cameron estimates that Rufinus' poems must have existed by the 390s AD at the latest as he believes he was copied by Ausonius and Claudian.[1] Cameron dates Rufinus to before Strato, which would imply that he was active before 250 AD.[2] Denys Page, on the other hand, places Strato before Rufinus and is in favor of a fourth century CE date for the latter.[3] Page is more cautious about the idea that Ausonius and Claudian borrowed from Rufinus.[3] In his dating, he has the support of Barry Baldwin, who spotted similar vocabulary between Rufinus and Patristic writers.[4]

Rufinus possibly lived near Ephesus, where one of his poems is set.[5] His verses are of the same light amatory character as those of Agathias, Paulus Silentiarius, Macedonius, and others; but beyond this there is no other indication of his period.

In the Anthology of Planudes, there is also an epigram ascribed to an otherwise unknown Rufinus Domesticus. He is not considered to be the same person as the Rufinus who wrote the previously mentioned epigrams of Book V.