author
Persius
A sharp Roman satirist whose compact, challenging poems combine Stoic thought with bold criticism of literary and social excess. Though he died young, his six satires secured his place in the tradition of Latin literature.
2 Audiobooks
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
The Satires of A. Persius Flaccus
by Persius
About the author
Aulus Persius Flaccus was born on December 4, 34 AD, at Volterra in Etruria, and came from an equestrian family. He moved to Rome at twelve, where he studied grammar and rhetoric before becoming closely associated with the Stoic philosopher Lucius Annaeus Cornutus, whose ideas strongly shaped his writing.
Persius wrote poetry, a tragedy, and other works, but his lasting achievement is a collection of six satires. His style is intense and compact, confronting hypocrisy, shallow ambition, and what he saw as the empty conventions of contemporary poetry. He was also acquainted with leading literary figures including Lucan, Caesius Bassus, and Seneca.
He died on November 24, 62 AD, before completing all of his work. His friend and mentor Cornutus helped prepare the satires for publication, and they later became especially influential during the Middle Ages.