On this day in 65 BC was born Horace. The Roman lyric Poet, Satirist, and Critic Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) was born in Apulia,Italy.His father, an Italian Freedman,sent Horace to the finest school in Romethe Grammaticus Orbilius.He then studied literature and philosophy in Athens.In 44 BC he became a staff officer in Brutus’ Army. He fought in the battle of Philippi in 42 BC where Marc Antony and Octavian defeated the forces of Brutus.As a result of the defeat, his military career was over and he lost his family’s estate. Augustus offered amnesty to the defeated soldiers, and Horace moved to Rome where he worked as a clerk in the Treasury.He became friends first with the poets Virgil and Varius, and in around 38 BC with Maecenas, who was an Advisor to Augustus.Horace first published his Satires in two books in 35 BC.In 29 BC he published the Epodes, in 23 BC the first three books of Odes, and in 20 BC his first book of Epistles. Augustus asked Horace in 17 BC to write a ceremonial poem celebrating his reign to be read at the Saecular Games. In 14 BC he published he second book of Epistles, which he followed a year later with his fourth book of Odes. In the final years of his life, he wrote his Ars Poetica. He died in 8 BC. Along with Virgil, Horace is the most celebrated of the Augustan poets. (Horace reads before Maecenas_Picture by Fyodor Bronnikov)
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 12:57:36 +0000