Adrian Murdoch offers us an image of Boethius from the philosopher’s own lifetime. The image was etched in ivory during his consular year, 510, many years before he fell afoul of Theodoric. In prison awaiting execution he wrote The Consolation of Philosophy.

The Arian Theodoric suspected the Catholic Boethius of conspiring with the Byzantines. The Catholics of Italy honor their man as a martyr, as they have since the time of his death.