Epitome

Life Gaius Plinius Secundus, in English Pliny the Elder, was an ancient scientist, natural philosopher, and military commander, as well as was the uncle of Pliny the Younger. He was born in…

Quintus Tullius Cicero was the younger brother of the more prominent Marcus Tullius Cicero. Life Quintus Cicero was born in 100 BCE, and thus was likely the same age as Julius…

Life Aulus Hirtius, personal legate to Julius Caesar, was born circa 90 BCE, and died in 43 BCE at the Seige of Mutina. Aulus Hirtius served with Caesar in Gaul,…

Life The life of Publius Papinius Statius primarily comes from his own works. He tells us he was born at Naples, which he describes as a “meeting-place of Greek and Roman…

Life The only information we have for Valerius Maximus comes from his own writings. Therein he portrayed himself as a modest client of Sextus Pompeius (cousin to Pompey the Great and not…

Often considered the “father of Latin literature,” Livius Andronicus is the earliest Latin writer whose identity is assured, and also was the earliest extant non-Roman writer in Latin poetry, as…

Life There is almost no biographical information on Valerius Flaccus. The manuscripts list his name as Gaius Valerius Flaccus Balbus Setinus. There’s one reference from Quintilian (Inst. Orat. 10.1.190) that implies…

Life Gnaeus Naevius was born a Roman citizen in either Rome or Campania. His year of birth is unknown, but it was likely around 270 BCE, since he was old enough…

Life Phaedrus was said to be a Thracian slave who flourished in the first half of the first century CE. His exact dates of birth and death are unknown, but…

Lucius Annaeus Seneca, often called Seneca the Younger (Seneca Minor) or Seneca Philosophus (“Seneca the Philosopher”) to distinguish him from his father (Seneca the Elder), was an eminent philosopher in…