Inspirational Quotes by Silius Italicus (Roman Poet)

Silius Italicus (c.26–101 CE) was a Roman senator, orator, and epic poet of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He is best known for Punica (c.85 CE,) a 17-book epic on the Second Punic War, the longest surviving Classical Latin poem at over 12,000 lines.

Born in Patavium (modern Padua, Italy,) Silius gained prominence as a forensic orator before entering politics. He served as consul in CE 68, the year of Nero’s death, and later became proconsul of Asia (c.77–78 CE.) His political career was marked by cautious diplomacy, maintaining favor under multiple emperors.

After retiring, he devoted himself to literature and the arts. An admirer of Virgil and Cicero, he purchased and restored Virgil’s tomb in Naples and Cicero’s estate at Tusculum. Punica, heavily influenced by Livy’s histories, recounts key battles of the Second Punic War, including Hannibal’s crossing of the Alps and the Battle of Cannae. Though criticized for its style, the poem features dramatic war scenes and has seen renewed scholarly interest.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Silius Italicus