Horace Brief Biography and Poetry
One of the Greatest Ancient Roman Poets in Latin, Famous for Poetry
Jul 26, 2009
Horace was one of the greatest ancient Roman poets. He also wrote Epodes and Epistles. Best known for his Latin lyrical Odes, Horace is famous for his many insightful quotations, which are often quoted by others.
Brief Biography of Horace
Horace was born as Quintus Horatius Flaccus, on December 8, 65 BC, in the southern Italian town of Venusia. His father, saved money and moved his family to Rome, the capital city, so that Horace could get a better education. Later, Horace went to study at the Academy, a famous and ancient school in the Greek city of Athens.
In 44 BC, while Horace was still at the Academy, the dictator Julius Caesar was assassinated. The Roman world was plunged into disarray and civil war. Horace joined the army organized by Brutus, one of the conspirators who had killed Julius Caesar. Two years later Brutus was defeated by the Augustus, the future emperor, and his ally Mark Antony.
Horace the Poet and His Poetry
Disillusioned, Horace returned to Italy. With his father dead and his property seized by the victorious new rulers, he took a job as a minor public servant. It was this time that he began to write in his spare time in order to earn extra money. The great poet Virgil, noticed Horace's work and introduced him to a wealthy politician called Maecenas, who liked to encourage and young writers. Maecenas was patron not only to Virgil but also to Horace and Propertius.
Horace published his first book of poetry, Satires, when he was about 30. Five years later, he followed this with a second book of Satires and a collection of poems called Epodes. Maecenas recognized Horace's great talent and gave him a small farm in the countryside so that he could escape the bustle of Rome whenever he wanted.
Horace devoted the rest of his life to poetry, producing his greatest work, a collection of 88 poems called Odes, by the time he was 42. He is famous for meaningful quotes. Horace died at the age of 56.
A famous quote from Roman poet, Horace: "Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero." which in English translates to: "Seize the day and trust as little as you can in tomorrow." ~ Horace, Odes
Works by Horace
- Satires (Book I), 35 BC
- Satires (Book II), 30 BC
- Epodes, 30 BC
- Odes (Books I, II, and III), 23 BC
- Epistles (Book I), 20 BC
- Epistles (Book II), c. 14 BC
- Odes (Book IV), c. 14 BC
- Ars poetica (Art of Poetry), c. 8 BCI
Sources:
- Goring, Rosemary, Ed. Larousse Dictionary of Writers. New York: Larousse, 1994.
- McGovern, Una, Ed. Chambers Biographical Dictionary. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers, 2002.
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