Transcript Horace background PPT

Quintus Horatius Flaccus
Early Life
 Born December 8, 65 BC in Venusia
 Refers to himself as a
libertino natus patre
 Father was an auction
broker & tax collector
 Never mentions mother
but mentions his
nurse, Pullia
Education
 Father saved money for Horace to go to school in
Rome; studied under L. Orbilius Pupillus
 At 19 continued education in Athens at the
Academy founded by Plato
 Classmates with Cicero’s son, M. Cicero, and other
sons of well-known patrician families
Civil War
 Studies were interrupted by the Civil War that
followed Julius Caesar’s assassination in 44 BC
 Brutus (of Et tu, Brute? fame) came to Athens to
raise an army to fight against Octavian and Antony
 Feeling pro-democracy and pro-republic, Horace
joined Brutus’ cause and is appointed military
tribune (very rare)
 Brutus is defeated at Philippi; Horace is said to have
deserted afterwards
Meanwhile, back in Rome…
 Father is dead and property has been confiscated
 Horace says this poverty made him turn to poetry
 Augustus grants general amnesty to those involved
in the civil war
 Horace becomes clerk in state treasury and
eventually starts writing
Patronage
 Vergil introduces him to Maecenas in 38 BC who
becomes his patron
 Augustus also becomes a fan of his writing

Even offered Horace private secretary job, which Horace
turned down (no hard feelings)
 Horace purchased Sabine farm in the country with
financial support from these patrons
 Stressed that relationship with Maecenas was one of
mutual concern and friendship, not
patron/client
Maecenas
Horace’s Sabine farm
The End
 Historian Suetonius writes:
“somewhat short, plump,
and very charming”
 Never married
 Died at age 57
on November 27, 8 BC
 Buried on the Esquiline Hill
next to Maecenas
Esquiline burial mural
Writings
 Satires (10 poems) = seek
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serenity in life
Epodes = against the elite
and ruthless ambition
Satires 2
Odes (88 poems) = love,
friendship, and beauty
Epistles
Secular Hymn
(commissioned by
Augustus)
final book of Odes
Major Themes
 Taught moderation and simplicity with humor
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and wit
Looked to bring back morals, virtues, and values
of the republic, which were lacking at the time (and
Augustus was concerned)
Supported Epicurean philosophy (fame = afterlife)
Inconsistent in religious and philosophical reasoning
Agnostic, not atheist; believed that there might be a
higher divine power (but not Augustus)