Gaius Asinius Pollio

Llewelyn Morgan (University of Oxford)

Ed. by William John Dominik, University of Otago
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.1.2: Ancient Roman Writing and Culture (Republic and Empire), -750-476.
Vol. editors: Anca Dan (École Practique de Hautes Études PSL), Martine Diepenbroek (University of Johannesburg), William John Dominik (University of Otago), Giacomo Fedeli (University of Exeter), Victoria Fendel (University of Oxford), Thomas Habinek (University of Southern California), Emily Kneebone (University of Nottingham), Elodie Paillard (University of Sydney), Sophia Papaioannou (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Guendalina Daniela Maria Taietti (University of Liverpool), Jula Wildberger (American University of Paris)

Dates

Born c. -75
Died -4
Activity c. -50--4

Places

Born in Ancient Rome (Republic & Empire)
Active in Ancient Rome (Republic & Empire)

Activities

Primary

Historian / Chronicler
Literary Critic/ Historian
Playwright / Dramatist
Poet
Rhetorician/ Orator

Resources

Asinius Pollio's Works

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Gaius Asinius Pollio (76-4 BC) was a significant figure in the political and military spheres during the Roman civil wars (49-29 BC) and Augustus’ principate (29 BC – AD 14). Pollio is also a regular presence in the literature of the period, not only as its subject, but also as a patron and an author in his own right. Of Pollio’s own writings very little now survives, but the influence of his

magnum opus

, a history of the civil wars he fought in, was considerable.

Pollio’s origins were on the eastern coast of Italy, but when we first encounter him he is cutting a comfortable figure in sophisticated circles in Rome, acquainted with Catullus and C. Helvius Cinna, who addressed one of his most celebrated poems to him. During the civil wars he fought alongside Julius Caesar, and after

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633 words

Citation: Morgan, Llewelyn. "Gaius Asinius Pollio". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 31 October 2013 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=12483, accessed 22 November 2024.]

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