Odes

Horatius and His Odes

Horatius was inspired in part by lyric poet Quintus Horatius Flaccus and his works called the Odes. Widely regarded as one of the greatest of all classical writers, Horatius has remained compelling for more than 2000 years due to the beauty and subtlety of his pastoral works. The Odes celebrate universal human themes such as wine, food, friendship and music; simple pleasures that transcend the ordinary to become powerful reasons for existence.

Quintus Horatius Flaccus, known usually by his middle name Horatius or Horace, was born in 65 B.C. in Venosa, Italy. Educated in Greece and Rome, as a youth he served in the Roman Army before taking a post as a scribe in Augustus’ court in Rome. Horatius was befriended by a powerful political and arts patron named Maecenas, a close confidant of Caesar Augustus. Under Maecenas’ patronage, Horatius produced his remarkable works of poetry on a small farm in the Sabine Hills, inspired by the beauty of the land around him.