PATRON OF ARTS Guy Cilna (Gaius Cilnius Maecenas)

(ca. 70-8 BC)
Patron came from a wealthy family and was proud of his Etruscan origin (Cilna - his name for the mother because it was made known by the Etruscans). Patron of youth do not know, but since the battle of Philippi, he always was when Octavian, the future Emperor Augustus, a faithful friend and adviser of which he remained until the end of life. At 40 and 38 BC. Octavian sent him with important assignments to Anthony, Patron encouraged the conclusion of an agreement between Tarentum in 37 BC. At the time of his absence in Rome (in the 36-33 and 31-29 BC), Octavian left for himself Patron (in the second case, along with Mark Vipsanius Agrippa). In 23 BC. Patron, wanting to save his brother Aulus Varro Terrentsiya Muren, gave him to understand that the conspiracy against Augustus, in which he participated, revealed. Perhaps, for this disloyalty, he was dismissed from the position of the second person in the state (he was Agrippa, which in August saw its successor), but not lost friendship in August. The last years of life spent in the Patron of luxury and magnificence of his palace at Eskvilinskom hill in the middle of extensive gardens divided. On this site it was found many works of art, TN. 'Hall of Maecenas' still stands on the street Merulana. It is assumed that this building served as a conservatory or (more likely) banquet hall. Dying, Patron bequeathed all his property to Augustus, and instructed his care of Horace, which, however, survived his benefactor, only two months.
Patron became famous as a patron of writers and perceptive critic, and this is how his name became a byword. Virgil, one of the first entered into the circle of Maecenas, brought here in 38 BC. Horace (33 BC. Maecenas Horace granted the estate in Sabine mountains). It Maecenas, Octavian persuaded to support the poets and the new polity. Epody, Satire, Odes and Epistles of Horace devoted philanthropist, as Georgics of Virgil, written by his direct orders. Later in this circle also included Propertius, elegist. Horace speaks of the Patron as a simple and sincere person. Maecenas himself wrote both prose (criticized by later Roman authors), and poems, but his works are preserved only fragments.