Cassiodorus’ ‘Two Peoples’: A New Interpretation

Abstract

Cassiodorus’ tract De anima is among his least studied works. The only element that has attracted significant scholarly attention is his mention of ‘two peoples’. This has often been taken to refer to political conditions in his own time. Examination of the key phrase in context, however, reveals the reference is simpler and more theological, in line with the character of the rest of the work.