THE LEGACY OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE IN LITERATURE

SLOVAKIA

ITALIAN LITERATURE

WRITERS

Publius Vergilius Maro 15October 70 BC – 21

September 19 BC

Gaius Julius Caesar July 100 – 15 March 44 BC

Quintus Horatius Flaccus  8December 65 BC – 27

November 8 BC

Publius Ovidius Naso   20 March 43 BC – AD 17/18

Marcus Tullius Cicero 3 January 106 BC –

7 December 43 BC

PUBLIUS VERGILIUS MARO

15 October 70 BC – 21 September 19 BC

LIFE

Roman citizen

had excellent and expensive education

a member of the Roman bar

an introvert with poor health

cMaecenasenas

Bucolics  (The Eclogues)

Georgics

The Aeneid (The Roman Epic)

LITERARY WORK

THE AENEIDOne of the most important poems in the history of western literature.

12 book heroic epic

similar to Homer's The Odyssey

Virgil worked on it for 11 years

left unfinished at the time of Virgil's death

influenced: Dante, Shakespeare, Milton, Spenser, ...

AENEAS

Aeneas is considered the Prototype of the ideal Roman Ruler

A warrior who will lead his people to safety, found a newTrojan state, and establishorder in his and his countrymen's lives

LAST YEARS

Virgil traveled with Augustus to Greece

he caught a fever , he died in Brundisium harbour on September 21st, 19 BC

Virgil left instructions that the Aeneid should be burned

fortunately it was not burned

GAIUS JULIUS CAESAR

July 100 – 15 March 44 BC

BIOGRAPHY INTERESTING FACTS

• born in July 100 CB into a patrician family

• at the age of 16 he became a head of his family

• acclaimed an imperator in 60 and 45 BC

• he was elected a consul for 59 BC

• he died on 15th march 44 BC – he was assassinated

• full name: Gaius Julius Caesar

• Roman general, statesman, Consul and author of Latin prose

• played a critical role in the rise of Roman Empire

• creator of the Julian calendar

• one of the greatest military commanders in history

LITERARY WORKONLY CAESAR’S WAR COMMENTARIES HAVESURVIVED

• Poems by Julius Caesar• Commentarii de Bello Gallico (The Gallic

Wars)• Commentarii de Bello Civii (The Civil War)• De Bello Alexandrino (On the Alexandrine

War)• De Bello Africo (On the African war)• De Bello Hispanesi (On the Hispanic War)

ASSASSINATION Caesar was brutally assassinated on 15th March 44 BC around 60 or more men anticipated in the assassination Caesar was stabbed 23 times Last words: “ET TU, BRUTE?” (YOU TOO, BRUTUS?)

FAMOUS QUOTES

•“It is easier to find men who will volunteer to die, than to find those who are willing to endure pain with patience.”

• “I came, I saw, I conquered.”

• “Experience is the teacher of all things.”

QUINTUS HORATIUS FLACCUS 

8 December 65 BC – 27 November 8 BC

BIOGRAPHYwas a roman poet known only by the name of HORACIUS

he lived during the reign of emperor AUGUSTUS

his songs are perfect classical pattern

he used to praise free time and is famous for his board CARPE DIEM – ENJOY THE DAY

influence of horace's poetry was immense

LITERARY WORK

EPODI - erotic, civil and celebration of poetry

SATURAE - collection of satirical poems

CARMINA - is a hymn - worked on them for about seven years

- three books

QUOTES

,, Nothing is beautiful from all sides’“

,, We are only dust and shadow.‘‘

,,Seize the day, believing as little as possible in the morrow.‘‘

,,I sing for maidens and boys.’’

,, Once a word has escaped, it cannot be recalled.‘‘

PUBLIUSOVIDIUSNASO

20 March 43 BC – AD 17/18

• was born in Sulmo (Sulmona) east of Rome

• Ovid's father wanted him to become a lawyer

•  he was educated in rhetoric in Rome

• after the his father´s death, he rejected public career and inclined to poetry

• his first recitation has been dated to around 25 BC, when Ovid was eighteen

• he married three times and divorced twice

LifeLifeBIOGRAPHY

Amores  ("The Loves")

the first collection of poems

is a collection in three books of lovePoetry Love which the poet teaches iseasy, fun and adventure game

Critics have seen the poems asextremely playful.

Metamorphoses ("Transformations")

Ovid's most ambitious and popular work

contains about 12,000 verses, almost 250

different myths

the most beautiful place is the myth of the

four ages (gold, silver, copper and iron)

„We, people, always strive for the forbidden and wish the

impossible„

Ovidius

QUOTE

Marcus Tullius Cicero

3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC

BIOGRAPHY

philosopher, politician, lawyer, orator, consul

educated in philosophy and rhetoric

elected to the Roman consul in 63BC

first case in 81BC

the most famous case was In Catalinam securing him thetitle pater patriae ("Father of the Country„)

LITERARY WORKBooksTen books about rhetoric have survived, as

well as eight about philosophy

Speeches88 were recorded , 52 survived until now

LettersMore than 800 letters by Cicero to others

exist, and over 100 letters from others to him.

CICERO WAS DECLARED A “RIGHTEOUS PAGAN” BY THE EARLY CATHOLIC CHURCH THEREFORE MANY OF HIS WORKS WERE DEEMED WORTHY OF PRESERVATION.

QUOTES“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”

“Friendship improves happiness, and abates misery, by doubling our joys, and dividing our grief.”

“Life is nothing without friendship.” “A happy life consists in tranquility of mind.“

“Nobody can give you wiser advice than yourself.““

WHY? BECAUSE...   • PUBLIUS VERGILIUS MARO AENEID – DANTE,

SHAKESPEARE, MILTON

• GAIUS JULIUS CAESAR THE JULIAN CALENDAR

• QUINTUS HORATIUS FLACCUS

CARPE DIEM – ENJOY THE DAY

• PUBLIUS OVIDIUS NASO MAGISTER AMORIS

  • MARCUS TULLIUS

CICERO IMPORTANCE OF

EDUCATION

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION