Dracontius

Dracontius a Spanish priest, lived about the year 450. He is the author of a poem describing the history of the six days of creation (lexcemeron, seu opus sex dierum). In its original form this poem had 176 verses, and is followed by an elegy addressed to the emperor Theodosius the Younger, consisting of 98 verses. In the 7th century, bishop Eugen of Toledo revised the poem, and added a description of the seventh day. In this new shape the Hexaemeron, or rather Hepteemeron, contains 634 verses. The original poem of Dracontius was published in Fabricius, Corpus christ. Poetarum (Basel, 1564), and with notes, by Weitz, at Frankfort (1610); also in the Magna Bibl. Patrum. volume 6, and in the Bibl. Patrum, volume 8. As revised and enlarged by bishop Eugen. it has been published by Rivin (Leips. 1651), Arevali (Rome, 1791), Carpzov (Helmstadt, 1794), in the Bibliotheca Maxima Patrum, volume 9. — Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Gener. 14:718.