“Annales” by Quintus Ennius (239 – 169 BCE) is a monumental epic poem that aims to tell the history of Rome from its mythical beginnings to Ennius’ contemporary times. Considered one of the fathers of Roman literature, Ennius revolutionized epic poetry by introducing Greek influences and adapting the classical Greek dactylic hexameter, making him a forerunner of the Roman epic tradition.
The “Annals” originally consisted of 18 books, although most of them, unfortunately, survived only in the form of fragments. The poem focuses on describing the most important events in Roman history in chronological order. Key places in it were occupied not only by the mythical beginnings of the city but also by military campaigns and political reforms that shaped Rome’s power.
Ennius paid particular attention to highlighting the greatness of Rome, presenting history as a series of heroic deeds while emphasizing the role of Roman values such as bravery, sacrifice and piety (pietas). This shows the strong patriotism of the author, who considered the history of Rome to be a providential work and its fate to be inextricably linked to the will of the gods.
Ennius, inspired by Homer’s Greek epics, introduced dactylic hexameter into Roman literature, which was of great importance for future generations of poets such as Virgil. Although the subject of the “Annals” was strictly Roman, the style and structure of the poem reflected knowledge of Greek literature. Taking over the form from the Greeks, Ennius not only raised Roman literature to a higher artistic level but also integrated it into the larger Mediterranean tradition.
Ennius was deeply respected in ancient Rome, and his Annals were considered a major historical source before the works of Virgil, Livy, and Tacitus appeared. The poet enjoyed particular respect among intellectuals and politicians, especially for his approach to history, which combined didacticism with the praise of the Roman spirit.
