Boethius was an early 6th-century Roman senator, consul, and philosopher who entered public service under Ostrogothic King Theodoric the Great. He was born into a prominent family that included the emperors Petronius Maximus and Olybrius, as well as several consuls. His father, who also served as a consul, died when Boethius was a young boy. He was subsequently raised by Quintus Aurelius Memmius Symmachus, who provided him with an excellent education and instilled in him a deep love for literature and philosophy. Boethius began his public service career at a young age and held many significant positions, including the consulship during Theodoric’s reign. Eventually, he rose to the position of magister officiorum, overseeing all government and court services. Despite his political success, Boethius remained deeply committed to scholarly pursuits, with the ambitious goal of translating the complete works of Aristotle, along with commentary, from Greek into Latin. During his career, he managed to translate and comment on several of Aristotle’s works, helping preserve and transmit classical knowledge to the medieval world. Unfortunately, Boethius fell out of favor with King Theodoric, who accused him of conspiring against the throne. Imprisoned and awaiting his execution, Boethius composed The Consolation of Philosophy, a profound philosophical treatise exploring themes such as fortune, fate, and the nature of happiness. Shortly after completing this seminal work, he was executed around 524 or 525 CE.