15 moments

1. Birth at Venusia

   0065-12-08 BC · Venosa (ancient Venusia), Basilicata, Italy

   

   Horace was born at Venusia, the Apulian-Lucanian border town now called Venosa. Coordinates represent modern Venosa, the successor settlement to ancient Venusia.

2. Study at Athens

   0045-01-01 BC · Athens, Attica, Greece

   

   Horace went to Athens for advanced study in philosophy and literature before entering Brutus's republican forces. The year is given by the cited Encyclopaedia Britannica biography.

3. Republican officer at Philippi

   0042-01-01 BC · Battlefield of Philippi, near Philippi, Macedonia, Greece

   

   Serving as a military tribune in Brutus's republican army, Horace was present in the campaign that ended with the defeat at Philippi. Coordinates are a representative point for the battlefield west of ancient Philippi; the source supports the year but not an individual battle-day.

4. Arrival at Aricia on the Brundisium journey

   0037-01-01 BC · Ariccia (ancient Aricia), Lazio, Italy

   Horace began the journey later described in Satires 1.5, traveling south from Rome toward Brundisium. Wikipedia dates Horace's journey with Maecenas to Brundisium to 37 BC.

5. Arrival at Rubi

   0037-01-01 BC · Ruvo di Puglia (ancient Rubi), Apulia, Italy

   Horace recorded reaching Rubi after a difficult rainy stage of the journey across Apulia. The translation spells the ancient place Rabi; it is identified with Rubi, modern Ruvo di Puglia.

6. Departure from Fundi

   0037-01-01 BC · Fondi (ancient Fundi), Lazio, Italy

   Horace's party passed through Fundi while traveling south on the diplomatic journey to Brundisium. The journey is dated to 37 BC; no more precise date is securely supported.

7. Journey ends at Brundisium

   0037-01-01 BC · Brindisi (ancient Brundisium), Apulia, Italy

   Brundisium was the terminus of Horace's journey with Maecenas and other companions. Brundusium is modern Brindisi.

8. Meeting Virgil at Sinuessa

   0037-01-01 BC · Sinuessa, near Mondragone, Campania, Italy

   

   At Sinuessa, Horace's traveling party met Plotius, Varius, and Virgil, a reunion he celebrated in the satire. Coordinates represent the site of ancient Sinuessa near modern Mondragone.

9. Overnight near Trivicum

   0037-01-01 BC · Trevico (ancient Trivicum), Campania, Italy

   After leaving Beneventum, Horace's group was received at Trivicum in Apulia. Coordinates represent modern Trevico, generally identified with the ancient locality named in the itinerary.

10. Reach Barium

    0037-01-01 BC · Bari (ancient Barium), Apulia, Italy

    Continuing eastward, Horace's party reached the Adriatic-side town of Barium. The itinerary is dated only to 37 BC.

11. Rest at Capua

    0037-01-01 BC · Capua, Campania, Italy

    

    Horace reached Capua on the Brundisium journey and rested while Maecenas played ball. Coordinates represent ancient Capua at modern Santa Maria Capua Vetere.

12. Stop at Beneventum

    0037-01-01 BC · Benevento (ancient Beneventum), Campania, Italy

    The party continued inland to Beneventum, where Horace recounted a near-fire at their host's lodging. The source dates the itinerary through its identification as Horace's 37 BC journey to Brundisium.

13. Travel through Forum Appii

    0037-01-01 BC · Forum Appii, Pontine Marshes, Lazio, Italy

    On the Brundisium journey, Horace and his companions proceeded from Aricia to Forum Appii on the Appian Way. Coordinates are a representative point for the archaeological area traditionally identified with Forum Appii.

14. Visit to Egnatia

    0037-01-01 BC · Egnazia (ancient Egnatia), Fasano, Apulia, Italy

    Horace visited Egnatia, where the travelers mocked a local claim about incense melting without fire. Coordinates represent the archaeological site of ancient Egnatia.

15. Death in Rome

    0008-11-27 BC · Rome, Italy

    

    Horace died shortly after Maecenas and was buried near Maecenas's tomb on the Esquiline Hill. The consular date corresponds to 27 November 8 BC; coordinates represent central Rome.