Statius Publius Papini (Publius Papinius Statius)

(ca. 45-96 BC)
Born in Naples, shone at the court of Emperor Domitian. From 80 to 92 created Statius Thebaid (Thebais), an epic poem of 12 songs (10 000 hexameter verses). In this poem, based on the famous Greek myth, describes the rivalry of brothers Polynices and Eteocles for royal power in Thebes. Statius also composed of 5 books of poems under the title Silvae (can be translated as Outline). This 32 poems of varying length, written (all but six hexameters) to the case without a thorough finishing. Some, such as a poem about sleep (V 4), is truly enchanting. By the time of his death Statius II completed the song of another epic, Ahilleidy (Achilleis). For the man of literary tastes of the era is significant that the plots of major works of Statius took from mythology.