Florus, Publius Annius

▪ Roman historian

flourished 2nd century AD, Africa

died Rome?

      historian of Rome and poet, important as the first of a number of African writers who exercised considerable influence on Latin literature in the 2nd century. He was also the first of the “new-fashioned” poets of Hadrian's reign, whose special characteristic was the use of lighter and more graceful metres than those of the poets they displaced.

      Florus compiled a brief sketch of the history of Rome from its founding to the time of Augustus, based chiefly but not solely on Livy. The work, called in some manuscripts Epitome de T. Livio bellorum omnium annorum DCC (“Abridgement from Livy of All the Wars over 1200 Years”), is a rhetorical panegyric of the greatness of Rome. Almost valueless historically, it was much used in the Middle Ages. In the manuscripts the writer is called Lucius Annaeus or Julius, but the similarity in vocabulary and style to a dialogue known to be the work of Publius Annius Florus, Vergilius orator an poeta (“Was Virgil an Orator or a Poet?”), of which a fragment is preserved, authenticates his authorship of the history.

      The Vergilius states that Florus took part in the contest of poets instituted by the emperor Domitian in honour of Capitoline Jove. Having been refused a prize because of the prejudice against African provincials, he went to Tarraco, Spain, where he taught rhetoric. At some time he may have returned, because it is usually thought that he is the Florus who was said to have addressed the well-known lines to Hadrian that begin, “I do not wish to be a Caesar” (“Ego nolo Caesar esse”), which provoked Hadrian's satirical parody, “I do not wish to be a Florus” (“Ego nolo Florus esse”), quoted by Spartianus in the Augustan History, “Life of Hadrian,” Book XVI. Twenty-six trochaic tetrameters, De qualitate vitae, and five graceful hexameters, De rosis, are also attributed to him.

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