author
Ettore Romagnoli
1871–1938
A gifted Italian classicist, translator, and man of letters, he helped bring ancient Greek poetry and drama to modern readers and audiences. His lively versions of Aristophanes, Homer, and the tragedians made the classical world feel vivid and performable again.
1 Audiobook
Minerva e lo scimmione
by Ettore Romagnoli
About the author
Born in Rome on June 11, 1871, Ettore Romagnoli became one of Italy’s best-known scholars of Greek language and literature. He studied in his native city and went on to teach Greek at the universities of Milan and Rome, building a reputation not only as a philologist but also as a writer, critic, and translator.
Romagnoli is especially remembered for his ambitious effort to translate a wide range of classical Greek poetry into Italian. His versions included works by Aristophanes, Homer, Pindar, and the Greek tragedians, and he was praised for aiming to make these texts feel alive as literature rather than simply academic exercises. He also worked for the stage, helping revive ancient Greek drama in performance, particularly through productions at the Greek theatre of Syracuse.
Alongside his scholarly work, he wrote original poetry and dramatic pieces, moving comfortably between criticism, translation, and creative writing. He died in Rome on May 1, 1938, leaving behind a body of work that connected rigorous classical learning with a genuine love of performance and style.