Silius Italicus (c. 28 A.D – c. 103 A.D)
Sometimes, authors get a bad reputation for reasons explainable or as an accumulation of "disadvantages", that is, by other people's harsh critiques. Silius Italicus wrote one of the longest epics in Latin Literature, but is also regarded as one of the worst. His historical epic, Punica, centers around the second Punic War. He was instead more well known as the biggest fanboy of Roman authors. His two personal favorites are Vergil and Cicero. He even bought the tomb of Vergil and worshiped it and bought Cicero's villa to enjoy himself in. However, he also had a political life (a very successful on in fact). He was a lawyer under Nero and was his informer. Under Vespasian, he was proconsul. He might have received the best press about his book, but his death shows his dedication to his beliefs. He starved himself as a stoic gesture of faith after contracting an incurable disease. He was buried in the tomb of his idol.
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Basic InfoFull Name:
Tiberius Catius Asconius Silius Italicus Born: c. 26 A.D | Unknown (debated) Died: 103 B.C (aged c. 77) | Italy |
WorksPunica - 17 book epic of 12,000 verses about the 2nd Punic Wars
Latin: http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/silius.html |