Lucretius

Lucretius (99 BC – 55 BC) was a Roman poet and philosopher. His only known work is the epic poem De rerum natura, about the tenets and philosophy of Epicureanism, and which is usually translated into English as On the Nature of Things.

Life[edit | edit source]

Very little is known about Lucretius's life; the only certain fact is that he was either a friend or client of Gaius Memmius, to whom the poem was addressed and dedicated.

De rerum natura[edit | edit source]

De rerum natura is a first century BC epic poem by Lucretius that the poet dedicated to his patron, Memmius. The poem, written in some 7,400 dactylic hexameters, is divided into six untitled books, and explores Epicurean physics through richly poetic language and metaphors.

Philosophy[edit | edit source]

Lucretius's philosophical views are based on the teachings of Epicurus, as presented in De rerum natura. According to Lucretius, the universe functions without the aid of gods, and religious fear is damaging to human life.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Lucretius has been credited with originating the concept of the three-age system which was formalised in 1836 by C. J. Thomsen.

References[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

Works by Lucretius at Project Gutenberg
De rerum natura, translated by William Ellery Leonard

Lucretius Resources
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