author
Gaius Lucilius
A sharp observer of Roman life, Gaius Lucilius is widely regarded as the first major Roman satirist. His bold attacks on politics, social manners, greed, and hypocrisy helped define the tradition later carried forward by Horace and Juvenal.
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
Gaius Lucilius was a Roman poet and satirist who lived in the 2nd century BC and died in 103 BC. His birthplace was Suessa Aurunca in Campania, and he belonged to the equestrian class. Ancient sources connect him with Scipio Aemilianus and the influential Scipionic Circle; he may also have served in the Numantine War in 134 BC. His exact birth year is uncertain, with estimates ranging from 180 to 148 BC.
Lucilius made everyday Roman life the subject of serious poetry, writing about politics, war, money, social behavior, literature, and personal vice. His work was known for its direct, conversational style and fearless criticism of public figures and institutions. He wrote thirty books of satires, mostly in verse, but only around eleven hundred disconnected lines survive today.
Although much of his writing has been lost, Lucilius had a lasting influence on Roman literature. Horace openly drew on his themes and techniques, while later writers such as Persius, Juvenal, and Quintilian recognized his importance. His work established satire as a distinctive literary form centered on sharp observation and social criticism.