Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius was an early Christian author (ca. 240 – ca. 320) who became an advisor to the first Christian Roman emperor,Constantine I, guiding his religious policy as it developed,and tutor to his son. A Christian apologist of the fourth century. The name Firmianus has misled some authors into believing that he was an Italian from Ferno, whereas he was an African by birth and a pupil of Arnobius who taughtat Sicca Veneria. An inscription found at Cirta in Numidia, which mentions a certain L. Caecilius Firminianus,has led to the conclusion in some quarters that his family belonged to that place (Harnack, "Chronologie d.altchr. Lit.", II,416. Lactantius was born a pagan and in his early life taught rhetoric in his native place.At the request of Emperor Diocletian he became an official professor of rhetoric in Nicomedia.One of his poems (Hodoeporicum) is an account of his journey from Africa to his new home.
He wrote apologetic works explaining Christianity in terms that
would be palatable to educated people who still practiced the
traditional religions of the Empire, while defending Christian beliefs against the criticisms of Hellene philosophers.
traditional religions of the Empire, while defending Christian beliefs against the criticisms of Hellene philosophers.




