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Curated category

Golden Age Latin writers

  • CiceroMarcus Tullius Cicero was born on the 3rd of January 106 BC in the hill town of Arpinum. His family belonged to the wealthy equestrian order, yet his name…
  • Julius CaesarGaius Julius Caesar entered the world on 12 or the 13th of July 100 BC into a family claiming ancient divine lineage. His clan traced its roots to Julus, son…
  • Lucius Varius RufusLucius Varius Rufus moved within the tightest circle of early Augustan Rome. He stood as a close friend to Virgil, who later entrusted him with a sacred task…
  • OvidPublius Ovidius Naso was born on the 20th of March in 43 BC within the Paelignian town of Sulmo. This Apennine valley settlement lies east of Rome and served…
  • HoraceQuintus Horatius Flaccus arrived in the world on the 8th of December 65 BC within the town of Venusia. This settlement sat upon a trade route at the border…
  • VirgilPublius Vergilius Maro entered the world on the 15th of October in 70 BC during the consulship of Pompey and Crassus. Ancient biographers place his…
  • CatullusGaius Valerius Catullus was born to a leading equestrian family of Verona in Cisalpine Gaul. His father entertained Julius Caesar when the future dictator…
  • LivyTitus Livius was born in Patavium, now known as Padua, during the year 59 BC. This city stood as the second wealthiest location on the Italian peninsula at…
  • Marcus Terentius VarroMarcus Terentius Varro was born in or near Reate, now known as Rieti in the Lazio region of Italy. He entered a family thought to be of equestrian rank…
  • Gaius Julius HyginusGaius Julius Hyginus lived between 64 BC and AD 17. He began life as a slave before gaining freedom under the Roman emperor Augustus.
  • SallustGaius Sallustius Crispus likely entered the world in Amiternum, a town nestled within Sabine territory. Modern scholars debate whether he was born there or…
  • VitruviusIn 56 BC, the Roman army laid siege to Larignum. Vitruvius stands as the only surviving source for this specific battle.
  • LucretiusThe 15th of October in the year 55 BC marks the death of Titus Lucretius Carus, yet his birth remains a shadow. A note by Jerome places his life under the…