LUCA Mark Annaeus (Marcus Annaeus Lucanus)

(39-65 AD)
Lucan was born in Kordube (sovr. Cordoba, Spain), his father was Mark Annaeus Mela, the grandfather - he Seneca, uncles - the philosopher Seneca the Younger, a mentor and adviser to Nero. Brought to Rome in infancy, Lucan received a good education, especially in the field of rhetorical art. He went to Athens for further study, but was recalled to Rome Nero, who had a certain legal age made him quaestor and appointed augurs. In 60 Lucan with his poem that honored Nero, won first prize at the first Neronova games. In 62 or 63 Lucan published the first three songs of his poem about the Civil War. However, the friendship between Nero and Lukanov not last long, probably also because Nero was jealous poetic talent Lucan. Lucan took an active part in the conspiracy antineronovskom Guy Calpurnia Piso, and when the plot was discovered, Nero forced him to commit suicide.
Greatest work of Luke (and the only thing left to us) - it is a poem Pharsalus (Pharsalia), which should have been called on the Civil War (De bello civili). The poem consists of ten songs and describes a civil war between Caesar and Pompey, beginning with the transition Caesar crossed the Rubicon and the ensuing panic in Rome. Pompey retreats to Brundizy, then moved to Epirus, and Caesar meanwhile divides his commanders in Spain. After this Caesar follows Pompey in Epirus and causes his defeat of Pharsalus in Thessaly, making escape to Egypt, where Pompey treacherously killed. Cato again gathers the troops of Pompey, Caesar goes to Egypt and the besieged in Alexandria. Here the narrative breaks off, the poem remained unfinished. The cloying flattery of Nero, especially in the first song of the poem is colored by a fierce hostility to Caesar, whose victory as the time and caused the light Principate and the rule of the family Julio - Claudian, represented by Nero. Pompey Lucan portrays a sincere patriot, Katon him - the personification of virtue.

Lucan wisely breaks with the epic tradition, not taking the gods no role in human action. But in other respects he often alters the taste: rhetorical beauty, he appreciates the much higher naturalness, its characters stilted, derogations overloaded with unnecessary details, sometimes ludicrous hyperbole. On the other hand, the poetry of Lucan is full of fierce energy, in addition, he is a true master of the aphorism.