Horace, Carmina [Odes]

Lindsay Cameron Watson (University of Sydney)

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

First circulation or publication -23 - 13

Places

Ancient Rome (Republic & Empire) (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Ode
Poem collection

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Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) was born on 8th December 65 (BC) and died on 27th November 8 (BC). In between he produced a substantial body of poetry, of which the

Odes

(Latin

Carmina

) represent his most important and enduring work. Books 1-3 were published together in 23 B.C, to a disappointing reception. Book 4, quantitatively speaking more political than 1-3, followed some year later; the last datable allusion is 13 years (BC).

Horace was to an unusual degree conscious of his vocation as poet, an idea announced with considerable prominence in the envoi to Odes 1. 1. In penning the Odes, he viewed himself as accommodating to Roman verse the artistic legacy of the Greek lyric poets (cf. Od. 1. 32, 4. 3. 10-12). Indeed, the very title of his work, Carmina, literally “Songs”, mirrors

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3245 words

Citation: Watson, Lindsay Cameron. "Carmina". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 15 November 2006 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=13378, accessed 22 November 2024.]

Horace, Carmina [Odes]

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