Aemilius Macer facts for kids
Aemilius Macer was an ancient Roman poet from the city of Verona. He wrote poems that aimed to teach people things, which is why he is called a "didactic" poet.
Who Was Aemilius Macer?
Aemilius Macer lived during the time of ancient Rome. He was known for his writing. According to a historian named Jerome, Aemilius Macer passed away in 16 BC.
His Famous Poems
Aemilius Macer wrote two main poems:
- Ornithogonia: This poem was all about birds. It was actually a translation of an older work by a writer named Boios.
- Theriaca: This poem taught people about antidotes. These were special remedies used to fight against the poison of snakes. For this poem, Macer was inspired by the Greek poet Nicander of Colophon.
It's also possible that Aemilius Macer wrote a book about plants. However, a famous poem called Floridus or De viribus herbarum, which was thought to be his, was actually written much later. It was created in the Middle Ages by a French doctor named Odo Magdunensis.
Not the Same Macer!
It's important not to confuse Aemilius Macer with another poet also named Macer. This other Macer was sometimes called Iliacus. The famous Roman poet Ovid mentioned him in his writings.
This "Iliacus" Macer wrote an epic poem about the events that happened before the famous story of the Iliad. We know he lived much later than Aemilius Macer because Ovid wrote letters to him. Some people think this Macer Iliacus might have been the son or grandson of Theophanes of Mytilene, who was a close friend of the Roman general Pompey.
