Birth
Horace was born in Venusia in Southern Italy. His father was a financially successful freedman (former slave), able to buy a small farm and give his son the benefit of an education in Rome. 

Education and military service
In 45BC (20) he went to Athens to study at the best school of philosophy, but his education there was interrupted by the outbreak of civil war, and he joined the party of Brutus, serving as a military tribune at the Battle of Philippi, where Brutus’ forces were routed. Governance of Italy fell to Octavian (later known as Augustus), and, in order to reward his soldiers, he confiscated the land of his enemies, including Horace’s father’s farm. 

Return to Rome
Returning to Rome, Horace secured a post as clerk to the quaestor, and in about 38BC (27) he was introduced to Maecenas, who was to become his lifelong patron. 

First publication
His first book of Satires was published in 35BC (30), and it was at about this period that Maecenas presented him with a farm in the Sabine Hills, where he was to spend much of his time, and to which he became increasingly attached. The book of Epodes was published in about 30BC (35), followed by the second book of Satires in 29BC (36), and the first three books of Odes in around 23BC (42). 

Augustus
Through Mycaenas he came to the attention of the Emperor Augustus, and was asked to compose a sacred hymn for the celebration of the secular games in 17BC (48). He published his fourth book of Odes in 13BC (52), at the request of Augustus, in part to celebrate the military victories of the Emperor’s stepsons Drusus and Tiberius. 

Self portrait
He describes himself at the age of 44 as of small stature, prematurely grey and fond of basking in the sun.

Death
He died suddenly at the age of 57, shortly after his patron Maecenas.

Horace Biography : Links

list of poets

Poetry
Ode to a Wine Jar
Ode to Poetry
Winter Is Fled

criticism

Other classical poets
Sappho 
Catullus 
Martial 
Ovid

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