Great Latin Authors: Vergil, Ovid, Cicero and Caesar
A short tour of the major Roman writers, what each is famous for, and a famous opening line from each to practise reading.
Roman literature is one of the great bodies of ancient writing. Here are the authors most often read by students.
Poets
| Author | Famous for |
|---|---|
| Vergil (70–19 BC) | the Aeneid, Rome's national epic |
| Ovid (43 BC–AD 17) | the Metamorphoses, stories of transformation |
| Horace (65–8 BC) | the Odes, poems on life and friendship |
| Catullus (c. 84–54 BC) | short, personal poems, including love poems |
Prose writers
| Author | Famous for |
|---|---|
| Cicero (106–43 BC) | speeches and letters, master of Latin prose |
| Caesar (100–44 BC) | the Gallic War, his own account of his campaigns |
| Livy (59 BC–AD 17) | a huge history of Rome |
| Pliny the Younger (c. AD 61–113) | letters, including an account of the eruption of Vesuvius |
Famous opening lines
Caesar, Gallic War
Gallia est omnis dīvīsa in partēs trēs. — All Gaul is divided into three parts.
A favourite first sentence for students, because the grammar is clear.
Vergil, Aeneid
Arma virumque canō. — I sing of arms and the man.
The epic begins with a statement of its theme: war, and the hero Aeneas.
Cicero
Ō tempora, ō mōrēs! — Oh the times, oh the customs!
How to start reading
- Begin with Caesar: his sentences are straightforward.
- Try a few lines of Catullus for short poems.
- Read a translation first, then the Latin.
- Use the dictionary to look up unfamiliar words.
Why read them?
- Language: you meet real Latin in its natural setting.
- Culture: you see how the Romans thought and argued.
- Influence: these authors shaped later literature, education and politics.
Words from literature
| English | Latin source |
|---|---|
| literature | litterae, letters |
| poet | poēta |
| verse | versus, a turning, a line |
Tips
- Learn a first line from each author.
- Read short passages aloud.
- Use the dictionary to look up unfamiliar words.
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