Pope St. Symmachus
?–514 CE · Sardinia
A Sardinian convert from paganism, Symmachus was elected in 498 on the same day as a rival, the archdeacon Laurentius, igniting the Laurentian schism that split Rome for years. King Theodoric the Great, the Ostrogothic ruler of Italy, ultimately backed Symmachus, and a series of synods affirmed that the pope could not be judged by any earthly tribunal, an important precedent for papal independence. Symmachus aided Catholics persecuted in the East, ransomed captives, supported the African church under Vandal rule, and built and adorned churches in Rome. Despite the contested start, his reign strengthened the Roman see's autonomy and charitable reach.
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Sardinia
We know they were here, but the specifics of what they did at this stop aren’t recorded yet in our corpus.
About Sardinia
Sardinia, the large Mediterranean island west of Italy. In the early Church it was a place of penal exile; several Roman clergy, including Pope Pontian and Hippolytus, were deported to its mines under persecution.
In Sardinia at the same time
In the same place & time
Sages whose lives overlapped with Pope St. Symmachus’s in the same cities, drawn from their recorded journeys.
Across the traditions
In the same tradition
Benedict of Nursia, Boethius, Pope Pelagius I, Pope St. Hormisdas, Pope Anastasius II, Pope St. Hilarius
The world in their lifetime
Thinkers, teachers, and rulers whose lives overlapped with Pope St. Symmachus’s — a glimpse of the wider world they lived in. Drawn purely from recorded birth and death years.
Christian world
- Prosper of Aquitaine· 390 CE–463 CE
- Theodoret of Cyrus· 393 CE–458 CE
- Narsai· 399 CE–502 CE
- Diadochus of Photice· 400 CE–486 CE
- Salvian of Marseille· 400 CE–480 CE
- Pope Leo the Great· 400 CE–461 CE
- Sozomen· 400 CE–450 CE
- Peter Chrysologus· 400 CE–450 CE
- Faustus of Riez· 405 CE–490 CE
- Philoxenus of Mabbug· 440 CE–523 CE
- Jacob of Sarug· 451 CE–521 CE
- Caesarius of Arles· 470 CE–542 CE
- Romanos the Melodist· 490 CE–556 CE
- Pope St. John I· –526 CE
- Pope St. Felix IV· –530 CE
- Pope St. Gelasius I· –496 CE
- Pope Boniface II· –532 CE
- Pope John II· –535 CE
- Pope St. Felix III· –492 CE
- Pope St. Agapetus I· –536 CE
- Pope St. Silverius· –537 CE
- Pope St. Simplicius· –483 CE
- Pope Vigilius· –555 CE
- Theodosius of Alexandria· –566 CE
Graeco-Roman world
Scientists
Jewish world
Buddhist world
Luminaries & Explorers world
Works
No works attributed in the corpus yet.