The 22 Greatest Works of Ancient Roman Literature
Ancient Rome and its environs are second only to the ancient Greek world in the production of prose, poetry and drama that have lasted for millennia and are still accessible to modern readers.
For this list, Roman literature is defined as writing by authors residing in the core region of ancient Rome, including the Roman city-state and the Italian Peninsula under Roman control.
The list covers the greatest ancient Roman literature of all genres. It focuses on major fictional works, including novels, novellas, novel series, plays, epic poetry and collections.
The selection is based on the continuing research carried out for The Greatest Literature of All Time and further research into ancient Roman literature acclaimed by readers, writers, critics and scholars.
Latest update: July 10, 2025
c.200 BCE
Miles Gloriosus
by Plautus, Rome
Play, also known as The Braggart Soldier
c.200 BCE
The Twin Brothers
by Plautus, Rome
Play, also known as The Brothers Menaechmus
161 BCE
Eunuchus
by Terence, Rome
Play
c.41–37 BCE
Eclogues
by Virgil, Rome
Poetry collection, also known as Bucolics
c.35–30 BCE
Satires
by Horace, Rome
Poetry collection
30–26 BCE
Marathus Cycle
by Tibullis, Rome
Poetry collection
29 BCE
Georgics
by Virgil, Rome
Poetry collection
c.29–16 BCE
Elegies
by Sextus Propertius, Rome
Poetry collection
c.29–19 BCE
Aeneid
by Virgil, Rome
Epic poem
23–13 BCE
Odes
by Horace, Rome
Poetry collection
19 BCE
The Art of Poetry
by Horace, Rome
Long poem
c.10 BCE
The Art of Love
Poem
c.8 CE
The Book of Days
Long poem, also known as On the Roman Calendar, orignally Fasti
Metamorphoses
Long poem
My first reaction to Ovid's Metamorphoses was mystification. This was one of the great books of Western culture. Ovid was said to be wickedly delightful to read compared to other ancients. And I was reading.... Critique • Quotes • Translations • Wikipedia • Amazon
c.55 CE
Thyestes
by Seneca, Rome
Play
c.60-70 CE
Satyricon
by Gaius Petronius Arbiter, Rome
Novel
61–65 CE
Pharsalia
by Lucan, Rome
Epic poem, also known as On the Civil War, originally De Bello Civili
c.79 CE
Argonautica
by Valerius Flaccus, Rome
Epic poem
c.86–103 CE
Epigrams
by Martial, Rome
Poetry collection
92 CE
Thebaid
by Statius, Rome
Epic poem
93–96 CE
Silvae
by Statius, Rome
Poetry collection
c.100–127 CE
Satires
by Juvenal, Rome
Poetry collection
