Quintus Horatius Flaccus

Horace/ Youth and Education Born December 8, 65 BCE in Venusia Father was freedman who owned a farm Studied in Rome for primary education, then Athens to study Greek and philosophy

Horace/ Second Civil War In 43 and 42 BCE Horace fought in Brutus’ army during the second civil war He served in Philippi Saved himself by dropping his shield and running off the battlefield He returned to Rome and worked as a clerk in public office He had lost his farm

Horace/ Maecenas Horace worked on poetry as a clerk, and attracted Vergil’s attention Vergil introduced him to his patron Maecenas Published his first book of Satires in 35 BCE Maecenas gave him a Sabine farm in 36, and Horace dedicated his time to poetry Maecenas introduced him to Augustus, who commissioned the fourth book of Odes

Horace/ Modern World Common phrases from his poetry Carpe diem pluck the day Nunc est bibendum Now we must drink Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country Aurea mediocritas the golden mean

Horace/ Satires Satires 35 BCE Written in hexameters Mock the life and customs of Rome Satires discuss Greek philosophy through Roman life (nature of happiness, ambition, and greed; a moral life) Influenced by Lucilius who created Roman satire

Horace/ Odes Odes 23 & 13 BCE Imitate the Greek lyric poets Sappho and Alcaeus Written in alcaic and sapphic meters; very awkward syntax Themes glorifying life, nature, and condemning greed

Epodes & Ars Poetica Epodes 30 BCE More odes that attempted to create a new style of Latin lyric poetry Fiery poetry Imitated Archilochus’ Greek poetry Ars Poetica 18 BCE Poetry about good poetry Used as a standard for creating poetry centuries later

He was really great. The end. Horace/ Legacy Drives high school IB and AP Latin students insane Introduced the 5 act play and proper themes for the different styles of poetry Inspired other great poets such as Tennyson Odes combine Greek styles and subjects of “modern” Roman life in the age of Augustus Encourage living within your means (loose ambition) and taking advantage of life He was really great. The end.

Works Cited http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/331 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epodes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horace http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odes_(Horace) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satires_(Horace) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Poetica