Antiquity was gradually dying... If in the history of culture Boethius is considered the “last Roman,” then Theodoric, of course, was a kind of guardian of ancient civilization.

When the Western Roman Empire collapsed in 476, which had been subjected throughout In the 5th century, due to constant attacks by barbarians, vast territories: Britain, Spain, Gaul and Italy - found themselves at the mercy of competing tribes. The center of Roman civilization, Italy, was captured by the Ostrogoths, led by Odoacer. However, he was soon defeated by Theodoric the Great, who managed to unite the unorganized hordes of his fellow tribesmen under his rule.

Having been educated in Constantinople, where he was held as a hostage, Theodoric single-handedly ruled Italy for four decades, carefully preserving the values of Roman culture. He sought to achieve mutually beneficial coexistence between two peoples: the Romans and the Ostrogoths. By patronizing scientists and poets, erecting amazingly beautiful churches in Ravenna, Theodoric thereby clearly expressed his admiration for Greco-Roman culture.