Inspirational Quotes by Lucilius Junior (Roman Poet)

Lucilius Junior (fl. 1st century CE) was a Roman official, poet, and correspondent of Seneca, serving as procurator of Sicily under Emperor Nero. His friendship with Seneca the Younger is documented in Seneca’s Moral Letters, addressed to him.

Likely a native of Campania, Lucilius was frequently linked to Pompeii in Seneca’s writings. By 65 CE, he had earned Roman knight status through persistent work and owned a country villa in Ardea, south of Rome.

His most significant literary contribution is Aetna, a 644-line Latin poem on volcanic activity. Its authorship remains debated, with some attributing it to Virgil, Cornelius Severus, or Manilius, though Lucilius is a strong candidate, given his knowledge of Sicily and connection to Seneca’s Naturales Quaestiones. The poem draws from Posidonius of Apamea and possibly the pseudo-Aristotelian De Mundo, reflecting Lucretian influences.

Seneca praised Lucilius’ literary talents, mentioning a poem on Arethusa and calling him “my poet.” Despite his contributions, most of his work is lost, leaving Aetna as his primary surviving text.

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