Lucius Varius Rufus
Who was Lucius Varius Rufus?
Roman poet
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Lucius Varius Rufus (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Lucius Varius Rufus (c. 73 BC – 13 BC) was a Roman poet and playwright from the early Augustan age, born in Turbigo. He was well-regarded in his time and was close friends with Virgil and Horace. Although most of his works have been lost, we rely on the opinions of his contemporaries and a few surviving fragments to understand his impact.
Varius was part of the literary circle supported by Gaius Maecenas, a major sponsor of the arts during the Augustan period. He and Virgil were responsible for introducing Horace to Maecenas, which had a significant impact on Roman literature. Horace spoke highly of Varius in the Odes, calling him a master of epic poetry and saying he was the only one capable of properly honoring Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa's military achievements. Virgil, writing as Lycidas in his ninth Eclogue, admitted he hadn't yet matched the work of Varius or Helvius Cinna, quite a compliment from one of Rome's finest poets.
One known work by Varius was the epic De Morte, with parts later quoted by Macrobius in the Saturnalia, and some lines were copied or imitated by Virgil. Horace's Satires seem to reference another epic by Varius, and a commentator on the Epistles mentions three lines that Varius wrote in a tribute to Augustus, which Virgil supposedly used in his own writing. These fragments show that his poetry was highly skilled and respected by his peers.
His most famous work was the tragedy Thyestes, based on the gruesome story of the house of Atreus. Quintilian, a grammarian, and rhetorician, said it could be compared to the greatest Greek tragedies, which was high praise from someone known for his tough standards. A record in a Paris manuscript notes that the play was performed at the games organized by Octavian in 29 BC to celebrate the victory at Actium, for which Varius was rewarded with one million sesterces by Octavian.
After Virgil died in 19 BC, Varius and Plotius Tucca were asked to prepare the unfinished Aeneid for publication. Although Virgil wanted the manuscript destroyed, Augustus instructed Varius and Tucca to edit and publish it, ensuring its survival. This effort helped preserve one of the key works of Western literature. Varius died around 13 BC, leaving a reputation primarily known through the praise of his peers and the few fragments that have survived.
Before Fame
Little is known about Lucius Varius Rufus's early life, except that he was born in Turbigo, in what is now northern Italy. He grew up during the chaotic final decades of the Roman Republic, a time marked by civil wars, political assassinations, and the downfall of republican systems. Despite the turmoil, Rome's literary culture thrived, and young writers sought support from wealthy patrons.
As Varius became a recognized poet, he formed friendships with Virgil and Horace, which put him at the center of the Augustan literary world. Joining Maecenas, the leading literary patron of the time, kicked off his most productive years. The patronage system during the late Republic and early Empire rewarded poets who could skillfully celebrate Roman power and achievements. Varius seems to have excelled in meeting these expectations.
Key Achievements
- Composed the tragedy Thyestes, performed at the Actian games in 29 BC and praised by Quintilian as equal to the finest Greek tragedies
- Authored the epic poem De Morte, fragments of which influenced Virgil's later poetry
- Served as one of the two editors who prepared Virgil's Aeneid for publication after the poet's death
- Played a key role in introducing Horace to the literary patron Maecenas, alongside Virgil
- Received one million sesterces from Augustus for his contribution to the Actian games, reflecting his standing as a leading poet of the age
Did You Know?
- 01.Varius received one million sesterces from Octavian as payment for his tragedy Thyestes, staged at the games celebrating the victory at Actium in 29 BC.
- 02.Quintilian ranked Varius's tragedy Thyestes alongside the greatest Greek tragedies, an exceptional compliment in an era when Greek dramatic literature was considered the standard of excellence.
- 03.Macrobius recorded that lines from Varius's epic De Morte were later imitated or directly appropriated by Virgil, suggesting Varius's work was a source of inspiration for the Aeneid's author.
- 04.Along with Plotius Tucca, Varius edited and published Virgil's Aeneid after the poet's death in 19 BC, against Virgil's own wishes that the unfinished manuscript be destroyed.
- 05.Horace singled out Varius as the only living poet capable of adequately celebrating the military accomplishments of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, one of Augustus's most powerful generals.