Quintus Horatius Flaccus Horace Youth and Education Born

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

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/ prm. PID/331 http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Ep odes http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/H orace http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/O des_(Horace) http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Sa tires_(Horace) http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Ar s_Poetica