Rome's Best Authors
Over the more than 1000 years the Romans have held power, many authors, poets,
historians, and intellectuals created literary compositions, with topics ranking from
love to history. With that being said, here are the top 10 Roman authors.
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Gaius Valerius Catullus
Catullus was born around 85 BC in Verona, a city in Cisalpine Gaul,
into a rich family. He moved to Rome in 62 BC, where he met and
fell in love with “Lesbia”, the subject of many of his poems. In total,
he wrote 116 poems, and is perhaps the greatest Roman love poet.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Seneca the Younger was born around 4 BC in Cordua. Initially, the
emperor Caligula condemned him to death, but he was saved.
Claudius banished him, but he was brought back to educate and
guide the emperor Nero. He was forced by Nero to commit suicide
in 65 AD. He is known for his work in philosophy, drama, and satire,
as well as his role in Roman politics.
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9
(Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus
Tacitus, born around 56 AD, is known as one of the greatest Roman
historians. Not much is known about his personal life. In addition
to serving as a senator, Tacitus wrote extensively about the early
Roman Empire. His two major remaining works are the Annals and
Histories.
Titus Livius
Livy was born at Patavium around 59 BC. He studied philosophy
when he was young, and was encouraged by the future emperor
Claudius to study history. His major work, Ab Urbe Condita, featured
142 books, 35 of which survive today. It covers a range of years,
beginning with Aeneas’ flight from Troy and supposedly ending with
the death of Drusus or the Battle of Teutoburg Forest. Livy regarded
as one of the best Roman historians.
7
Publius Ovidius Naso
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Ovid was born in Sulmo on March 20, 43 BC. He was educated in
Rome in rhetoric, and was expected to study law, a career which he
abandoned. He was banished by the Emperor Augustus to Tomis.
Ovid claimed the reason for his exile was “carmen et error”, although
it probably had much to do with the content of his writings and
political views and discoveries. His works include Amores and
Metamorphoses, the latter of which is his most famous.