author
Gaius Lucilius
Often called the earliest Roman satirist, this sharp-eyed poet helped shape satire into a distinct literary form. Though only fragments of his work survive, his voice still echoes through later Roman writers.
1 Audiobook
The Satires of Juvenal, Persius, Sulpicia, and Lucilius Literally translated into English prose, with notes, chronological tables, arguments, &c.
by Juvenal, Gaius Lucilius, Persius, Sulpicia
About the author
Born at Suessa Aurunca in Campania, Gaius Lucilius was a Roman poet of equestrian rank and is widely remembered as a pioneer of Latin verse satire. Ancient dates for his birth vary, but reliable reference works agree that he died around 103 BC.
Lucilius was connected with the Scipionic Circle, a group associated with the statesman Scipio Aemilianus, and his writing gained a reputation for frank criticism and lively personal comment. Britannica describes him as the figure who gave Latin satire its distinctive character, turning it into a vehicle for social and moral observation.
Only fragments of his poems remain, but his influence was lasting. Later Roman satirists, including Horace and Juvenal, looked back to him as an important predecessor, which is why Lucilius still matters even in pieces.