Literature Roman Empire

statue in constanța, romania (the ancient colony tomis), commemorating ovid s exile

in traditional literary canon, literature under augustus, along of late republic, has been viewed golden age of latin literature, embodying classical ideals of unity of whole, proportion of parts, , careful articulation of apparently seamless composition. 3 influential classical latin poets—vergil, horace, , ovid—belong period. vergil wrote aeneid, creating national epic rome in manner of homeric epics of greece. horace perfected use of greek lyric metres in latin verse. ovid s erotic poetry enormously popular, ran afoul of augustan moral programme; 1 of ostensible causes emperor exiled him tomis (present-day constanța, romania), remained end of life. ovid s metamorphoses continuous poem of fifteen books weaving greco-roman mythology creation of universe deification of julius caesar. ovid s versions of greek myths became 1 of primary sources of later classical mythology, , work influential in middle ages 12th , 13th centuries have been called age of ovid.

the principal latin prose author of augustan age historian livy, account of rome s founding , history became familiar version in modern-era literature. vitruvius s book de architectura, complete work on architecture survive antiquity, belongs period.

latin writers immersed in greek literary tradition, , adapted forms , of content, romans regarded satire genre in surpassed greeks. horace wrote verse satires before fashioning himself augustan court poet, , principate produced satirists persius , juvenal. poetry of juvenal offers lively curmudgeon s perspective on urban society.

the period mid-1st century through mid-2nd century has conventionally been called silver age of latin literature. under nero, disillusioned writers reacted augustanism. 3 leading writers—seneca philosopher, dramatist, , tutor of nero; lucan, nephew, turned caesar s civil war epic poem; , novelist petronius (satyricon)—all committed suicide after incurring emperor s displeasure. seneca , lucan hispania, later epigrammatist , keen social observer martial, expressed pride in celtiberian heritage. martial , epic poet statius, poetry collection silvae had far-reaching influence on renaissance literature, wrote during reign of domitian.

the so-called silver age produced several distinguished writers, including encyclopedist pliny elder; nephew, known pliny younger; , historian tacitus. natural history of elder pliny, died during disaster relief efforts in wake of eruption of vesuvius, vast collection on flora , fauna, gems , minerals, climate, medicine, freaks of nature, works of art, , antiquarian lore. tacitus s reputation literary artist matches or exceeds value historian; stylistic experimentation produced 1 of powerful of latin prose styles. twelve caesars contemporary suetonius 1 of primary sources imperial biography.

among imperial historians wrote in greek dionysius of halicarnassus, jewish historian josephus, , senator cassius dio. other major greek authors of empire include biographer , antiquarian plutarch, geographer strabo, , rhetorician , satirist lucian. popular greek romance novels part of development of long-form fiction works, represented in latin satyricon of petronius , golden ass of apuleius.

from 2nd 4th centuries, christian authors become latin church fathers in active dialogue classical tradition, within had been educated. tertullian, convert christianity roman africa, contemporary of apuleius , 1 of earliest prose authors establish distinctly christian voice. after conversion of constantine, latin literature dominated christian perspective. when orator symmachus argued preservation of rome s religious traditions, opposed ambrose, bishop of milan , future saint—a debate preserved missives.

brescia casket, ivory box biblical imagery (late 4th century)

in late 4th century, jerome produced latin translation of bible became authoritative vulgate. augustine, of church fathers province of africa, has been called 1 of influential writers of western culture , , confessions considered first autobiography of western literature. in city of god against pagans, augustine builds vision of eternal, spiritual rome, new imperium sine fine outlast collapsing empire.

in contrast unity of classical latin, literary aesthetic of late antiquity has tessellated quality has been compared mosaics characteristic of period. continuing interest in religious traditions of rome prior christian dominion found 5th century, saturnalia of macrobius , marriage of philology , mercury of martianus capella. prominent latin poets of late antiquity include ausonius, prudentius, claudian, , sidonius. ausonius (d. ca. 394), bordelaise tutor of emperor gratian, @ least nominally christian, though throughout obscene mixed-genre poems, retains literary interest in greco-roman gods , druidism. imperial panegyrist claudian (d. 404) vir illustris appears never have converted. prudentius (d. ca. 413), born in hispania tarraconensis , fervent christian, thoroughly versed in poets of classical tradition, , transforms vision of poetry monument of immortality expression of poet s quest eternal life culminating in christian salvation. sidonius (d. 486), native of lugdunum, roman senator , bishop of clermont cultivated traditional villa lifestyle watched western empire succumb barbarian incursions. poetry , collected letters offer unique view of life in late roman gaul perspective of man survived end of world .