Nonus was born in Panopolis, Egypt, in the 5th century AD, and his peak should be placed around the years 440-490. The biographical information available about him is minimal. It appears to be a real fact that the pagan Nonus became a Christian towards the end of his life (although there is no solid evidence regarding this).

Corresponding to the earlier and later periods of his life are, respectively, his works "Dionysiaca" and "Metamorphosis of the Gospel according to John." The "Dionysiaca" - an epic consisting of 48 books, written in hexameter verses - is his main and most well-known work, closely identified with its creator's name. Its main theme is the campaign of the god Dionysus in India, a land he conquered both as a warrior with weapons and as a god with his supernatural powers.

Alongside this central plot, the poet unfolds a multitude of mythological episodes that span the life of the god from his birth (and even before that) to his deification, also including many, more or less related stories from other thematic cycles. In this way, Nonus creates a vast and detailed summary, we might say, of Greek mythology.

The epic composition of the "Dionysiaca" reflects, on a mythological-literary level, the campaign and conquests of Alexander the Great.

[Excerpt from a publisher's or edition's presentation text]