 The dedication to Julian probably indicates the consul and patrician, not the author of a well-known epitome of Justinian's "Novellae", who lived somewhat later than Priscian.The grammar is divided into eighteen books, of which the first sixteen deal mainly with sounds, word-formation and inflexions; the last two, which form from a fourth to a third of the whole work, deal with syntax.Priscian's grammar is based on the earlier works of Herodian and Apollonius.