Asinius Pollion

Gaius Asinius Pollio (-76, 4) is a speaker, historian and Roman poet. He is the friend of Catulle (poet).

Political life

Partisan, and personal friend of Jules César during the civil war, it takes part in -49 in the forwarding of Curion in Sicily then in Africa against the partisans of Pompée. He escapes the disaster which saw the massacre of Curion and the majority of its troops. He accompanies César in his following campaigns, in Macedonia, Africa and Spain.

After the death of César, it supports Marc Antoine, and exerts the consulate in -40. During its consulate, it made countryside in Dalmatie and seized Salone held by revolted, success which was worth the Triomphe to him.

There remained attached to the institutions of the Roman Republic, so that its independence in its manners and its words was proverbial under Principat of Auguste

Literary and artistic life

Pollion withdrew polic life in 40 front J.C., because of its dissension with Octave, to devote itself to the literary activity. It took share with the great renovation works undertaken in Rome under Auguste, by ensuring the repair of the square of the temple of Freedom, and by creating first public Bibliothèque, on Aventin in 38 av. J. - C.: to see Library of Asinius Polio. It exposed its collections of art to it, rich person of many Greek statues.

Its works: History of the civil war in 27 pounds, the tragedies, a book against Salluste all are lost for the posterity (of the fragments remain, in particular via Cicéron with which it corresponded).

Its history recalled the vision of a pessimistic republican on the events of the civil war. It seems to have begun its narration at the time from the pact between Pompée, Crassus, and César, to complete it with the Bataille of Philips which sealed the shipwreck of the republican institutions in Rome.

Suétone brings back in the life of César the severe judgment of Pollion on the exactitude of the Commentaires written by Jules César. (cf the article Comments on the Civil war ). Pollion condemned also the style of the historian Salluste, but more still the manners very rhetorics - according to him - narration of Tite-Live

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