n.
orig. Quintus Horatius Flaccus
born December 65, Venusia
died Nov. 27, 8 BC, Rome
Latin lyric poet and satirist.
The son of a former slave, he was educated in Rome. He fought in Brutus 's army in the upheaval after Julius Caesar 's murder but gained the favour of Octavian (later Augustus ) and achieved virtually the status of poet laureate. His early works include books of Satires and Epodes , but his fame rests chiefly on his books of lyrical Odes and verse Epistles , including the treatise Ars poetica , which sets down rules for the composition of poetry. The Odes and Epistles , frequently on themes of love, friendship, and philosophy, significantly influenced Western poetry from the Renaissance through the 19th century.