Marcus Porcius Cato

Enrica Sciarrino (University of Canterbury)

Ed. by Thomas Habinek, University of Southern California
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 -234
Died -149
Activity -204--149

Places

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

Activities

Primary

Essayist
Historian / Chronicler

Resources

Cato's Works

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Marcus Porcius Cato also known as “Cato the Censor” and “Cato the Elder” was one of the most prominent figures in the political and cultural life of Rome in the first half of the second century BC. Although he came from a family that lacked a history of political achievements, Cato was able to achieve the highest offices by appealing to ancestral virtues. He is often remembered for his hostility to Greek learning and poetic practices, but he is also considered the virtual founder of Latin prose literature.

Cato was born in 234 BC at Tusculum fifteen miles south of Rome in the Sabine country. Thanks to the support and patronage of L. Valerius Flaccus, Cato embarked on a career in public life by achieving in 204 BC the quaestorship, the lowest office on the ladder of electoral

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1599 words

Citation: Sciarrino, Enrica. "Marcus Porcius Cato". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 17 September 2007 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=789, accessed 22 November 2024.]