When and where was Horace born?
Quintus Horatius Flaccus was born on the 8th of December 65 BC in the town of Venusia. This location represents the meeting point of the rugged terrain of Lucania and the trade routes of Apulia.
Common questions about Horace
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What happened to Horace during the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC?
Horace fought for the republican cause under Marcus Junius Brutus during the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC. He later admitted to fleeing the battlefield without his shield, an act of cowardice he used to identify himself with famous Greek poets like Archilochus.
Who was Horace's patron and what gift did he receive?
Maecenas, Octavian's right-hand man, became Horace's patron and provided him with material support and encouragement. Maecenas gave Horace a Sabine farm that included income from five tenants, which may have ended his career at the Treasury.
When were Horace's Odes books 1 through 3 published?
Horace's Odes books 1 through 3 were composed around 23 BC. He adapted their forms and themes from Greek lyric poetry of the seventh and sixth centuries BC, employing complex measures including alcaics and sapphics.
How did Horace's influence extend into the Christian era?
Horace's influence extended into the Christian era through authors like Prudentius who adapted Horatian meters to his own poetry and gave Horatian motifs a Christian tone. By the early sixth century, Horace and Prudentius were both part of a classical heritage that was struggling to survive the disorder of the times.
When did Horace's work survive the period between the mid sixth century and the Carolingian revival?
Horace's work probably survived in just two or three books imported into northern Europe from Italy during the period between the mid sixth century and the Carolingian revival. These became the ancestors of six extant manuscripts dated to the ninth century.