1. Quintus Horatius Flaccus

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. Works Cited http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/331