Ennius, Quintus (c. 239-169 BC)

Early Roman poet who wrote tragedies based on the Greek pattern. His epic poem Annales (600 lines of which survive) deals with Roman history, and inspired Virgil's Aeneid.

Ennius was born at Rudiae in Calabria, southern Italy. While serving with the Roman army in Sardinia he attracted the notice of Cato the Elder, who brought him to Rome in 204 BC. There he made a living by teaching Greek and adapting Greek plays for the Roman stage, until 189 BC when he accompanied M Fulvius Nobilior on his Aetolian campaign. Through the influence of Nobilior's son he obtained Roman citizenship, and spent the rest of his life in Rome. Horace and Cicero bear witness to his intelligence and pleasing character, as revealed in a wide variety of writings. However, Ennius's fame rests chiefly on his Annales. It lacked the polish of Virgil or Lucretius, but its merit is summed up by Ovid: ‘Ingenio maximus, arte rudis’ (‘the greatest natural talent, but crude technique’).