Quintus Curtius Rufus

Quintus Curtius Rufus was a Roman historian, writer, and politician, likely active during the 1st century AD. His most notable contribution to literature is the work titled Historiae Alexandri Magni, or Histories of Alexander the Great, which is more fully known as Historiarum Alexandri Magni Macedonis Libri Qui Supersunt. This title translates to The Surviving Books of the Histories of Alexander the Great of Macedon. Unfortunately, significant portions of this original work have been lost to time.

Despite his literary significance, very little is known about the life of Quintus Curtius Rufus. Aside from his name appearing on the surviving manuscripts, there are no definitive biographical details available. This scarcity of information has led some scholars and philologists to speculate that he may have had another, unidentified historical identity.

Various theories have emerged regarding his true identity, but these hypotheses are met with differing levels of credibility. Nevertheless, the consensus among historians is that Quintus Curtius Rufus is recognized as the distinct author of the Histories, a work that continues to be a vital source for understanding the life and conquests of Alexander the Great.