Life
Tiberius Catius Asconius Silius Italicus (c. 26-101 CE) was a prominent Roman statesman (consul in 68 CE) and one of the three epic poets of the Flavian period, whose poems survive today (the other two are Statius and Valerius Flaccus). Silius produced the longest extant poem in Latin literature (12,202 verses), titled the Punica (“Punic War”). Silius served as proconsul in Asia (c. 77 CE), and, after the end of his political career of thirty years, he dedicated his time to the composition of his epic poem, celebrating the Roman defeat of Carthage during the Second Punic War (218-201 BCE). Undoubtedly, Silius found himself in the midst of the turmoil during the last years of emperor Nero’s life (ruled from 54 to 68 CE), and his career under the last of the Julio-Claudians
2185 words
Citation: Augoustakis, Antonios. "Punica". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 August 2013 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=35053, accessed 21 November 2024.]
