Valerius Flaccus (? - c. 90 A.D)Gaius Valerius Flaccus (Setinus Balbus) (died c. AD 90) was a Roman poet in the Silver Age under the emperors Vespasian and Titus and wrote a Latin Argonautica that corresponds to Apollonius of Rhodes' more famous epic. We know barely anything about his except that he was from Padua or Setia (in Latium) and served in the College of Fifteen (meaning he was responsible for the Sibylline books. The only ancient writer who mentions him is Quintilian, who laments his recent death as a great loss; as Quintilian's work was finished about 90 AD, this gives a limit for the death of Flaccus. His only surviving work, the Argonautica, dedicated to Vespasian on his setting out for Britain, was written during the siege, or shortly after the capture, of Jerusalem by Titus in 70 AD.The Argonautica is an epic poem of 8 books written in traditional dactylic hexameters, which recounts Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece.
|
Basic InfoFull Name:
Gaius Valerius Flaccus (Setinus Balbus) Born: ? | Padua or Setia Died: Around 90 A.D | Unknown |
Works |