Roman Authors Timeline

statue of Ovid the poet — Statue of Ovid.
bdmundo.com / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

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Updated on April 12, 2019

Roman writers were heavily influenced by Greek literature. Early Latin writers translated and adapted Greek forms for Roman audiences, beginning after the 1st Punic War (264-241) with Livius Andronicus (284-204? B.C.) whose works have not survived. In turn, Shakespearean comedy is indebted to the early Latin playwright Plautus. Over time, the Latin writers developed their own genres, most notable of which is satire.

Note that not all dates are universally accepted.

01

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Roman Authors from the 3rd Century B.C. (299-200)

Livius Andronicus (284-202?)
Naevius (270-201)
Plautus (254-184)
Ennius (239-169)
Cato (234-149)
Marcus Pacuvius (c.220-c.130)

02

of 05

Roman Authors from the 2nd Century B.C. (199-100)

Terence (195-159)
Lucilius (180-02)
Varro (116-27)
Nepos (110-24)
Cicero (106-43)

03

of 05

Roman Authors from the 1st Century B.C. (99-0)

Varro (116-27)
Nepos (110-24)
Cicero (106-43)
Caesar (100-44)
Lucretius (94-52)
Hirtius (90-43)
Catullus (87-54)
Sallust (86-35)
Vergil (70-19)
Gallus (66-26)
Horace (65-8)
Augustus (63 B.C.-14 A.D.)
Livy (59 B.C.-A.D.17)
Tibullus (55-19)
Sulpicia Contemporary of Tibullus
Propertius (c.50 - c.16 B.C.) Also contemporary with Tibullus
Ovid (43 B.C.-A.D. 17)
Seneca (4 B.C.-A.D. 65)

04

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Roman Authors from the 1st Century A.D. (0-99)

Augustus (63 B.C.-14 A.D.)
Livy (59 B.C.-A.D.17)
Ovid (43 B.C.-A.D. 17)
Seneca (4 B.C.-A.D. 65)
Phaedrus (14-54)
Pliny the Elder (23-79)
Petronius (27-66)
Persius (34-62)
Quintilian (35-100)
Lucan (39-65)
Martial (40-104)
Statius (45-96)
Juvenal
Tacitus (56-120)
Pliny the Younger (61-111)
Suetonius (75-150)

05

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Roman Authors from the 2nd Century A.D. (100-199)

Quintilian (35-100)
Martial (40-104)
Juvenal (47-130)
Tacitus (56-120)
Pliny the Younger (61-111)
Suetonius (75-150)
Aurelius (121-180)
Apuleius (124-170)
Gellius (130-170)