Polybius
(c. 200 - c. 118 BCE)
Polybius was a Greek historian and chronicler during the Republic. He was famous for his care for historical truth and his critical attitude towards sources.
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Biographies of Romans
The history of ancient Rome saw the emergence of many outstanding figures who left a lasting mark on the history of the world. Some of them are remembered by posterity as cruel tyrants, such as Caligula, Nero, and Caracalla. Others became renowned as reformers and builders of the Roman state’s power, including Augustus, Claudius, Marcus Aurelius, Diocletian, and Constantine the Great. It is also impossible to ignore the Roman generals, who often saved the state from collapse.
History also includes outstanding figures of Roman culture – writers, philosophers, and artists whose work had a profound impact on the development of European civilization. In this section, I present profiles of individuals who achieved great deeds or whose actions left a lasting mark on the pages of history.
Cornelia Africana the Younger
(c. 190-100 BCE)
Cornelia Africana the Younger went down in history as an exemplary Roman matron who lived in accordance with Roman values and as the mother of Tiberius and Gaius Gracchi.
Scipio Africanus the Younger
(185 - 129 BCE)
Scipio Africanus the Younger was an outstanding Roman commander from the period of the Third Punic War who conquered Carthage. An advocate of ancient Roman ideals.
Publius Terence Afer
(c. 185/4 – 159 BCE)
Publius Terence Afer was a Roman comedy writer whose work was popular not only in ancient Rome but also in the Middle Ages and later. Terence used elegant Latin, and in his works, he focused primarily on man, his personality and reactions to entanglement in everyday and unusual problems.
Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus
(162 - 133 BCE)
Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus was a Roman politician and people's tribune, who in 133 BCE undertook significant reforms for the benefit of the Roman Republic. After his death, Gaius continued his brother's ambitious plans.
Gaius Marius
(157/6 - 13 January 86 BCE)
Gaius Marius was a great Roman general and seven times elected consul. He became famous for defeating the Teutons and Cimbri and carrying out the reform of the Roman army.
Lucius Cornelius Sulla
(138 - 78 BCE)
Lucius Cornelius Sulla was a Roman commander and politician - the optimist. In 82 BCE Sulla was given dictatorial power. In the following years, he carried out a number of political reforms.
Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo
(135 - 87 BCE)
Gnaeus Pompey Strabo was a Roman leader and politician; father of the famous Pompey the Great.
Lucius Licinius Lucullus
(117 - 56 BCE)
Lucius Licinius Lucullus was a Roman commander and politician. Sulla's supporter, famous for his victories in the war with the ruler of Pontus, Mithridates VI Eupator.
Marcus Terentius Varro
(116 - 27 BCE)
Marcus Terentius Varro was a Roman scholar and writer. A true erudite, considered one of the best educated people in the history of ancient Rome.