Cornelius Gallus
Roman poet and orator, celebrated for his elegiac verse and political career under Augustus.
Quick Facts: Who was Cornelius Gallus?
- Subject:
- Cornelius Gallus
- Known for:
- Roman poet and orator, celebrated for his elegiac verse and political career under Augustus.
- Born:
- 69 BC
- Died:
- 26 BC
- Century / Era:
- -69s Historical Era Archive
- Verified Source:
- 2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives
Origins & Early Life
Gaius Cornelius Gallus (c. 70 – 26 BC) was a Roman poet, orator, politician and military commander, at one time appointed by the Emperor Augustus as prefect of Roman Egypt. Only nine lines of his poetry are extant today, but he was much read in antiquity; Ovid considered him one of the major Latin poets of his age. The identity of Gallus' purported birthplace, Forum Iulii, is still uncertain, and it is based on the epithet "Foroiuliensis" that Jerome gave to him. In Roman times, there were several cities with this name, but a dispute about Gallus' birthplace between Fréjus and the other cities is attested since the Renaissance. During the 20th century, Ronald Syme took into consideration Fréjus and Cividale del Friuli, and called the former the more likely.
Pivotal Works & Achievements
Jean-Paul Boucher recognized at least five candidates, and considered Forum Iulii Iriensium (modern Voghera) the most suitable. It has been also suggested that "Foroiuliensis" could refer not to Gallus' birthplace, but rather to the place where he performed a memorable act, namely the erection of the Vatican obelisk in the Forum Iulium of Alexandria, thus making some generic mentions of Gallia as the sole possible clue about his place of origin. Born in a humble family, Gallus moved to Rome at an early age where he was taught by the same master as Virgil and Varius Rufus. Virgil, who was in great measure indebted to the influence of Gallus for the restoration of his estate, dedicated his Eclogue X to him. The Erotica Pathemata of Parthenius of Nicaea was also dedicated to Gallus.
Enduring Legacy & Impact
In political life Gallus espoused the cause of Octavian and as a reward for his services was made prefect of Egypt. In 30 BC, Cornelius Gallus led a campaign to subdue a revolt in Thebes. He erected a monument in Philae to glorify his accomplishments. Gallus' conduct brought him into disgrace with the emperor and a new prefect was appointed. After his recall, Gallus committed suicide (Cassius Dio, liii 23).
Chronological Milestones & Life Events
Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Cornelius Gallus
True or False: “The surviving poetry of Cornelius Gallus is considered to be a complete, cohesive collection detailing his life events.”
Answer (FALSE ❌): The extant works are extremely fragmented; until 1978, only one line was known, and the later discoveries comprise only nine lines.
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- -69 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from -69
- -26 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from -26
Frequently Asked Questions about Cornelius Gallus
Who was Cornelius Gallus and what are their primary contributions?
Roman poet and orator, celebrated for his elegiac verse and political career under Augustus. Origins & Early Life: Gaius Cornelius Gallus (c. 70 – 26 BC) was a Roman poet, orator, politician and military commander, at one time appointed by the Emperor Augustus as prefect of Roman Egypt. Only nine lines of his poetry are extant today, but he was much read in antiquity; Ovid considered him one of the major Latin poets of his age. The identity of Gallus' purported birthplace, Forum Iulii, is still uncertain, and it is based on the epithet "Foroiuliensis" that Jerome gave to him. In Roman times, there were several cities with this name, but a dispute about Gallus' birthplace between Fréjus and the other cities is attested since the Renaissance. During the 20th century, Ronald Syme took into consideration Fréjus and Cividale del Friuli, and called the former the more likely.
When was Cornelius Gallus born and during which historical era did they live?
Cornelius Gallus was born on -69 and passed away on -26. For complete historical world events during this era, explore the -69 Chrono-Archive.
Where can I read more verified chronological archives on Cornelius Gallus?
Explore verified primary sources, interactive timelines, and contemporary figures in the 2Day Chrono-Wiki encyclopedia or review the original entry on Wikipedia.
Source: Wikipedia