Latin literature

Literature written in the Latin language.

Early literature Only a few hymns and inscriptions survive from the earliest period of Latin literature before the 3rd century BC. Greek influence began with the work of Livius Andronicus (c. 284–204 BC), who translated the Odyssey and Greek plays into Latin. Naevius and Ennius both attempted epics on patriotic themes; the former used the native ‘Saturnian’ metre, but the latter introduced the Greek hexameter. Plautus and Terence successfully adapted Greek comedy to the Latin stage. Accius and Pacuvius produced tragic verse. Lucilius (190–103 BC) founded Latin verse satire, while the writings of Cato the Elder were the first important works in Latin prose.

Golden Age (70 BC–AD 18) In the De Rerum natura of Lucretius, and the passionate lyrics of Catullus, Latin verse reached maturity. Cicero set a standard for Latin prose, in his orations, philosophical essays, and letters. To the same period of the Roman republic belong the commentaries of Caesar on his own campaigns. Other prose writers of this period include Cornelius Nepos, Sallust, and Marcus Terentius Varro.

Augustan Age (43 BC–AD 18) Within the Golden Age, this is usually regarded as the finest period of Latin literature. There is strong patriotic feeling in the work of the poets Virgil and Horace and the historian Livy, who belonged to the emperor Augustus' court circle. Virgil produced the one great Latin epic, the Aeneid, while Horace brought charm and polish to both lyric and satire. Younger poets of the period were Ovid, who wrote ironically about love and mythology, and the elegiac and erotic poets Tibullus and Propertius. Tragedy was again in vogue, and was attempted by Asinius Pollio (76 BC–AD 5), Varius Rufus (74–14 BC), and Augustus himself.

Silver Age (AD 18–c. 130) The second major period of imperial literature begins with the writers of Nero's reign: the Stoic philosopher Seneca; Lucan, author of the epic Pharsalia; the satirist Persius; and the novelist Petronius. Around the end of the 1st century and at the beginning of the 2nd came the historian and annalist Tacitus and the satirical poet Juvenal; other writers of this period were the epigrammatist Martial, the scientific encyclopedist Pliny the Elder, the letter-writer Pliny the Younger, the critic Quintilian, the historian Suetonius, and the epic poet Statius.

2nd–5th centuries There was only one pagan writer of importance, the romancer Apuleius, but there were some able Christian writers, such as Tertullian and Cyprian, who were followed by Arnobius (died 327) and Lactantius (died 325). In the 4th century there was a poetic revival, with Ausonius, Claudian, and the Christian poets Prudentius and St Ambrose.

The classical period ends, and the Middle Ages begin, with St Augustine's City of God and St Jerome's translation of the Bible.

Middle Ages Throughout the Middle Ages, Latin remained the language of the church and was normally employed for theology, philosophy, histories, and other learned works. Latin verse, adapted to rhyme and non-classical metres, was used both for hymns and for the secular songs of scholars, as in the Carmina Burana. Medieval Latin vernacular gradually evolved into the regional and national Romance languages, including French, Italian, and Spanish. Even after the Reformation, Latin retained its prestige as the international language of scholars and was used as such by the English writers Thomas More, Francis Bacon, John Milton, and many others.