
Contents
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I. Horace: The Man and His Work I. Horace: The Man and His Work
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ii. Horace’s Epodes and the Iambic Tradition ii. Horace’s Epodes and the Iambic Tradition
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iii. Reception of the Epodes: Scholarship, Interests, and Trends iii. Reception of the Epodes: Scholarship, Interests, and Trends
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Cite
Extract
Horace: The Man and His Work
Quintus Horatius Flaccus was born in Venusia1 (Venosa in southern Italy) on 8 December 65 bc to a freedman father (Sat. 1.6) and auction agent (Sat. 1.6.86–7).2 Despite his unassuming and provincial circumstances he received a privileged education at Rome and Athens (Sat. 1.6.76–80; Epist. 2.2.45), an education appropriate for one of equestrian or senatorial status.3 He later joined the Republican cause and attained the post of tribunus militum (‘military tribune’; Sat. 1.6.48). After fighting on the losing side against Octavian and Antony at Philippi (42 bc), his father’s estate was confiscated (Epist. 2.2.50–1), although Horace appears to have secured a pardon (Suet. Vita 7). Consequently, poverty compelled him to compose poetry (Epist. 2.2.51–2); nevertheless, somehow, he managed to purchase the costly post of scriba quaestorius (a salaried clerk, Suet. Vita 8; Sat. 2.1.36–7).4 Horace’s apparently fortuitous poetic career proved highly successful: friendship with Virgil and Varius (Sat. 1.6.54–5) resulted in an introduction to Maecenas (Sat. 1.6.56–60), who would become Horace’s patron (Sat. 1.6.61–2). Proximity to Maecenas, Augustus’ right-hand man, ensured inevitable proximity to Augustus, and indeed Augustus commissioned Horace to compose the Carmen Saeculare, a lyric poem to be publically performed for the Ludi Saeculares of 17 bc (Suet. Vita 2).5 This was no small undertaking. The Ludi Saeculares celebrated Augustus’ achievement, his moral reform and maintenance of peace, heralding a new golden age.6 Horace’s status as poet laureate was thus ensured, and certainly he was no mean competitor for, and successor to, the famous Augustan poet, Virgil (died 17 bc). Horace died 27 November 8 bc.
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