Classical Latin is the form of
Latin language
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken in the area around Rome, known as Latium. Through the power of the Roman Republic, it became ...

recognized as a
literary
Literature broadly is any collection of written
Writing is a medium of human communication
Communication (from Latin ''communicare'', meaning "to share") is the act of developing Semantics, meaning among Subject (philosophy), entities ...
standard
Standard may refer to:
Flags
* Colours, standards and guidons
* Standard (flag), a type of flag used for personal identification
Norm, convention or requirement
* Standard (metrology), an object that bears a defined relationship to a unit of ...
by writers of the late
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic ( la, Rēs pūblica Rōmāna ) was a state of the classical Roman civilization, run through public
In public relations
Public relations (PR) is the practice of managing and disseminating information from an indiv ...
and early
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Rōmānum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, Basileía tôn Rhōmaíōn) was the post-Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of governme ...

. It was used from 75 BC to the 3rd century AD, when it developed into
Late Latin
Late Latin ( la, Latinitas serior) is the scholarly name for the written Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken in the area around Rome, kn ...
. In some later periods, it was regarded as good or proper Latin, with following versions viewed as debased, degenerate, vulgar, or corrupted. The word ''Latin'' is now understood by default to mean "Classical Latin"; for example, modern Latin textbooks almost exclusively teach Classical Latin.
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero ( ; ; 3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC) was a Ancient Rome, Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher and Academic skepticism, Academic Skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during crisis of ...

and his contemporaries of the late republic referred to the Latin language, in contrast to other languages such as Greek, as or . They distinguished the common
vernacular
A vernacular or vernacular language refers to the language or dialect that is spoken by people that are inhabiting a particular country or region. The vernacular is typically the native language, normally Spoken language, spoken informally rath ...
, however, as
Vulgar Latin
Vulgar Latin, also known as Popular or Colloquial Latin, is non-literary
Literature broadly is any collection of written
Writing is a medium of human communication
Communication (from Latin ''communicare'', meaning "to share") is th ...
(''sermo vulgaris'' and ''sermo vulgi''), in contrast to the higher
register
A register is an authoritative list of one kind of information.
Register or registration may refer to:
Arts entertainment, and media Music
* Register (music), the relative "height" or range of a note, melody, part, instrument, etc.
* ''Regis ...
that they called , sometimes translated as "Latinity". ''Latinitas'' was also called ("speech of the good families"), ''sermo urbanus'' ("speech of the city"), and in rare cases ''sermo nobilis'' ("noble speech"). Besides ''Latinitas'', it was mainly called ''latine'' (adverb for "in good Latin"), or ''latinius'' (comparative adverb for "in better Latin").
''Latinitas'' was spoken and written. It was the language taught in schools.
Prescriptive
Linguistic prescription, or prescriptive grammar, is the attempt to establish rules defining preferred or correct usage of language. These rules may address such Linguistics, linguistic aspects as spelling, pronunciation, vocabulary, syntax, and ...
rules therefore applied to it, and when special subjects like
poetry
Poetry (derived from the Greek#REDIRECT Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece
Greece ( el, Ελλάδα, , ), officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country located in Southeast Europe. Its popula ...

or
rhetoric
Rhetoric () is the Art (skill), art of persuasion, which along with grammar and logic (or dialectic – see Martianus Capella), is one of the Trivium, three ancient arts of discourse. Rhetoric aims to study the techniques writers or sp ...
were taken into consideration, additional rules applied. Since spoken ''Latinitas'' has become extinct (in favor of subsequent registers), the rules of ''politus'' (polished) texts may give the appearance of an artificial language. However, ''Latinitas'' was a form of ''sermo'' (spoken language), and as such, retains spontaneity. No texts by Classical Latin authors are noted for the type of rigidity evidenced by stylized art, with the exception of repetitious abbreviations and stock phrases found on inscriptions.
Philological constructs
Classical
"Good Latin" in
philology
Philology is the study of language
A language is a structured system of communication
Communication (from Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languag ...
is known as "classical"
Latin literature
Latin literature includes the essays, histories, poems, plays, and other writings written in the Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originall ...
. The term refers to the canonical relevance of literary works written in Latin in the late
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic ( la, Rēs pūblica Rōmāna ) was a state of the classical Roman civilization, run through public
In public relations
Public relations (PR) is the practice of managing and disseminating information from an indiv ...
, and early to middle
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Rōmānum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, Basileía tôn Rhōmaíōn) was the post-Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of governme ...

. "
at is to say, that of belonging to an exclusive group of authors (or works) that were considered to be emblematic of a certain genre." The term ''classicus'' (masculine plural ''classici'') was devised by the Romans to translate Greek ἐγκριθέντες (encrithentes), and "select" which refers to authors who wrote in a form of Greek that was considered model. Before then, the term ''classis'', in addition to being a naval fleet, was a social class in one of the diachronic divisions of Roman society in accordance with property ownership under the Roman constitution. The word is a transliteration of Greek κλῆσις (clēsis, or "calling") used to rank army draftees by property from first to fifth class.
''Classicus'' refers to those in the ''primae classis'' ("first class"), such as the authors of polished works of ''Latinitas'', or ''sermo urbanus''. It contains nuances of the certified and the authentic, or ''testis classicus'' ("reliable witness"). It was under this construct that
Marcus Cornelius Fronto
Marcus Cornelius Fronto (c. 100late 160s), best known as Fronto, was a Roman grammarian, rhetorician, and advocate. Of Berber origin, he was born at Cirta in Numidia. He was suffect consul for the '' nundinium'' of July-August 142 with Gaius La ...
(an
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent
A continent is any of several large landmass
A landmass, or land mass, is a large region
In geography
Geography (from Greek: , ''geographia'', ...

n-
Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Laz ...
lawyer and language teacher) used ''scriptores classici'' ("first-class" or "reliable authors") in the second century AD. Their works were be viewed as models of good Latin. This is the first known reference (possibly innovated during this time) to Classical Latin applied by authors, evidenced in the authentic language of their works.
Canonical

Imitating Greek grammarians, Romans such as
Quintilian
Marcus Fabius Quintilianus (; 35 – 100 AD) was a Roman
Roman or Romans usually refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome ...

drew up lists termed ''indices'' or ''ordines'' modeled after the ones created by the Greeks, which were called ''pinakes''. The Greek lists were considered classical, or ''recepti scriptores'' ("select writers").
Aulus Gellius
Aulus Gellius (c. 125after 180 AD) was a Roman author and grammarian, who was probably born and certainly brought up in Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus
, image_map ...
includes authors like
Plautus
Titus Maccius Plautus (; c. 254 – 184 BC), commonly known as Plautus, was a Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*, the capital city of Italy
*, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*, the people of ancient Rome
...

, who are considered writers of
Old Latin
Old Latin, also known as Early Latin or Archaic Latin ( la, prīsca Latīnitās, lit=the Latinity of the ancients) was the Latin language
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language
A classical language is a language
A language is a ...
and not strictly in the period of classical Latin. The classical Romans distinguished Old Latin as ''prisca Latinitas'' and not ''sermo vulgaris''. Each author's work in the Roman lists was considered equivalent to one in the Greek. In example,
Ennius
Quintus Ennius (; c. 239 – c. 169 BC) was a writer and poet who lived during the Roman Republic
The Roman Republic ( la, Rēs pūblica Rōmāna ) was a state of the classical Roman civilization, run through public
In public relatio ...
was the Latin
Homer
Homer (; grc, Ὅμηρος , ''Hómēros'') was an ancient Greek
Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language
Greek ( el, label=Modern Greek
Modern Greek (, , or , ''Kiní Neoellinikí Glóssa''), generally re ...

,
Aeneid
The ''Aeneid'' ( ; la, Aenē̆is ) is a Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken in the area around Rome, known as Latium. Through the p ...
was the equivalent of
Iliad
The ''Iliad'' (; grc, Ἰλιάς, Iliás, ; sometimes referred to as the ''Song of Ilion'' or ''Song of Ilium'') is an ancient Greek
Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language
Greek ( el, label=Modern Greek
Moder ...

, etc. The lists of classical authors were as far as the Roman grammarians went in developing a
philology
Philology is the study of language
A language is a structured system of communication
Communication (from Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languag ...
. The topic remained at that point while interest in the ''classici scriptores'' declined in the medieval period as the best form of the language yielded to
medieval Latin
Medieval Latin was the form of Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language
A classical language is a language
A language is a structured system of communication
Communication (from Latin ''communicare'', meaning "to share ...
, inferior to classical standards.
The
Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period
Period may refer to:
Common uses
* Era, a length or span of time
* Full stop (or period), a punctuation mark
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Period (music), a concept in ...

saw a revival in Roman culture, and with it, the return of Classic ("the best") Latin.
Thomas Sébillet's ''Art Poétique'' (1548), "les bons et classiques poètes françois", refers to
Jean de Meun
Jean de Meun (or de Meung, ) () was a French author best known for his continuation of the ''Roman de la Rose''.
Life
He was born Jean Clopinel or Jean Chopinel at Meung-sur-Loire. Tradition asserts that he studied at the University of Paris. He w ...
and
Alain Chartier
Alain Chartier (1430) was a French poet and political writer.
Life
Alain Chartier was born in Bayeux
Bayeux () is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy
Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie; from Old Fre ...

, who the first modern application of the words. According to
Merriam Webster's ''Collegiate Dictionary'', the term classical (from ''classicus)'' entered modern English in 1599, some 50 years after its re-introduction to the continent. In Governor
William Bradford's ''Dialogue'' (1648), he referred to
synod
A synod () is a council of a Ecclesia (church), church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. The word ''wikt:synod, synod'' comes from the meaning "assembly" or "meeting" and is analogous with the L ...

s of a
separatist
Separatism is the advocacy of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental or gender separation from the larger group. As with secession, separatism conventionally refers to full political separation. Groups simply seeking greater ...

church as "classical meetings", defined by meetings between "young men" from New England and "ancient men" from Holland and England. In 1715,
Laurence Echard
Laurence Echard (c. 1670–1730) was an English historian
( 484– 425 BC) was a Greek historian who lived in the 5th century BC and one of the earliest historians whose work survives.
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the p ...

's ''Classical Geographical Dictionary'' was published. In 1736,
Robert Ainsworth's ''Thesaurus Linguae Latinae Compendarius'' turned English words and expressions into "proper and classical Latin." In 1768,
David Ruhnken
David Ruhnken (2 January 172314 May 1798) was a Netherlands, Dutch classical scholar of German people, German origin.
Origins
Ruhnken was born in Bydlino, Bedlin (today Bydlino) near Słupsk, Stolp, Pomerania Province (1653-1815), Pomerania Provi ...
's ''Critical History of the Greek Orators'' recast the molded view of the classical by applying the word "canon" to the ''pinakes'' of orators after the
Biblical canon
A biblical canon or canon of scripture is a set of Religious text, texts (or "books") which a particular Jewish or Christian religious community regards as authoritative scripture. The English word ''Canon (basic principle), canon'' comes from ...
, or list of authentic books of the Bible. In doing so, Ruhnken had secular
catechism
A catechism (; from grc, κατηχέω, "to teach orally") is a summary or exposition of doctrine
Doctrine (from la, doctrina, meaning "teaching, instruction") is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught pri ...
in mind.
Ages of Latin

In 1870,
's ''Geschichte der Römischen Literatur'' (''A History of Roman Literature'') defined the philological notion of classical Latin through a typology similar to the
Ages of Man
The Ages of Man are the stages of human existence on the Earth according to Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the Ancient Greece, ancient Greeks, and a genre of Ancient Greek folklore. These stories conce ...
, setting out the Golden and Silver Ages of classical Latin. Wilhem Wagner, who published Teuffel's work in German, also produced an English translation which he published in 1873. Teuffel's classification, still in use today (with modifications), groups classical Latin authors into periods defined by political events rather than by style.
Teuffel went on to publish other editions, but the English translation of ''A History of Roman Literature'' gained immediate success.
In 1877,
Charles Thomas Cruttwell
Charles Thomas Cruttwell (1847–1911) was an English cleric, headmaster and classical scholar, known as a historian of Roman literature.
Life
He was born in London on 30 July 1847, eldest son of Charles James Cruttwell, barrister-at-law, of the In ...
produced a similar work in English. In his preface, Cruttwell notes "Teuffel's admirable history, without which many chapters in the present work could not have attained completeness." He also credits Wagner.
Cruttwell adopts the time periods found in Teuffel's work, but he presents a detailed analysis of style, whereas Teuffel was more concerned with history. Like Teuffel, Cruttwell encountered issues while attempting to condense the voluminous details of time periods in an effort to capture the meaning of phases found in their various writing styles. Like Teuffel, he has trouble finding a name for the first of the three periods (the current
Old Latin
Old Latin, also known as Early Latin or Archaic Latin ( la, prīsca Latīnitās, lit=the Latinity of the ancients) was the Latin language
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language
A classical language is a language
A language is a ...
phase), calling it "from
Livius
''Livius'' is a genus
Genus /ˈdʒiː.nəs/ (plural genera /ˈdʒen.ər.ə/) is a taxonomic rank
In biological classification
In biology, taxonomy () is the scientific study of naming, defining (Circumscription (taxonomy), circums ...
to
Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix (; 138–78 BC), commonly known as Sulla, was a Roman general
A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, or marines
Marines or naval infan ...

." He says the language "is marked by immaturity of art and language, by a vigorous but ill-disciplined imitation of Greek poetical models, and in prose by a dry sententiousness of style, gradually giving way to a clear and fluent strength..." These abstracts have little meaning to those not well-versed in Latin literature. In fact, Cruttwell admits "The ancients, indeed, saw a difference between
Ennius
Quintus Ennius (; c. 239 – c. 169 BC) was a writer and poet who lived during the Roman Republic
The Roman Republic ( la, Rēs pūblica Rōmāna ) was a state of the classical Roman civilization, run through public
In public relatio ...
,
Pacuvius
Marcus Pacuvius (; 220 – c. 130 BC) was an ancient Roman
In historiography
Historiography is the study of the methods of historians in developing history as an academic discipline, and by extension is any body of historical work on a ...
, and
Accius, but it may be questioned whether the advance would be perceptible by us."
In time, some of Cruttwell's ideas become established in Latin philology. While praising the application of rules to classical Latin (most intensely in the Golden Age, he says "In gaining accuracy, however, classical Latin suffered a grievous loss. It became cultivated as distinct from a natural language... Spontaneity, therefore, became impossible and soon invention also ceased... In a certain sense, therefore, Latin was studied as a dead language, while it was still a living."
Also problematic in Teuffel's scheme is its appropriateness to the concept of classical Latin. Cruttwell addresses the issue by altering the concept of the classical. The "best" Latin is defined as "golden" Latin, the second of the three periods. The other two periods (considered "classical") are left hanging. By assigning the term "pre-classical" to Old Latin and implicating it to post-classical (or post-Augustan) and silver Latin, Cruttwell realized that his construct was not accordance with ancient usage and assertions: "
e epithet classical is by many restricted to the authors who wrote in it
olden Latin It is best, however, not to narrow unnecessarily the sphere of classicity; to exclude
Terence
Publius Terentius Afer (; – ), better known in English as Terence (), was a Roman African playwright
A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes play
Play most commonly refers to:
* Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment
* P ...
on the one hand or
Tacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus ( , ; – ) was a Roman historian and politician. Tacitus is widely regarded as one of the greatest Roman historians by modern scholars.
He lived in what has been called the Silver Age of Latin literature
Classi ...

and
Pliny
Pliny may refer to:
People from antiquity
* Pliny the Elder (AD 23–79), ancient Roman nobleman, scientist, historian, and author of ''Naturalis Historia'' (''Pliny's Natural History'')
* Pliny the Younger (died 113), ancient Roman statesman, ...

on the other, would savour of artificial restriction rather than that of a natural classification." The contradiction remains—Terence is, and is not a classical author, depending on the context.
Authors of the Golden Age

Teuffel's definition of the "First Period" of Latin was based on inscriptions, fragments, and the literary works of the earliest known authors. Though he does use the term "Old Roman" at one point, most of these findings remain unnamed. Teuffel presents the Second Period in his major work, ''das goldene Zeitalter der römischen Literatur'' (''Golden Age of Roman Literature''), dated 671–767
AUC (83 BC – 14 AD), according to his own recollection. The timeframe is marked by the dictatorship of
Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix
Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix (; 138–78 BC), commonly known as Sulla, was a Roman general and statesman who won the first large-scale civil war in Roman history, and became the first man of the republic to seize power through force. He had the ...
and the death of the emperor
Augustus
Caesar Augustus (23 September 63 BC19 August AD 14) was the first Roman emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman Empire during the imperial period (starting in 27 BC). The emperors used a variety of different titles through ...

. Wagner's translation of Teuffel's writing is as follows:
The Ciceronian Age was dated 671–711 AUC (83–43 BC), ending just after the death of Marcus Tullius Cicero. The Augustan 711–67 AUC (43 BC – 14 AD) ends with the death of Augustus. The Ciceronian Age is further divided by the consulship of Cicero in 691 AUC (63 BC) into a first and second half. Authors are assigned to these periods by years of principal achievements.
The Golden Age had already made an appearance in German philology, but in a less systematic way. In a translation of Bielfeld's ''Elements of universal erudition'' (1770):
The Second Age of Latin began about the time of Caesar is ages are different from Teuffel's and ended with Tiberius. This is what is called the Augustan Age, which was perhaps of all others the most brilliant, a period at which it should seem as if the greatest men, and the immortal authors, had met together upon the earth, in order to write the Latin language in its utmost purity and perfection... and of Tacitus, his conceits and sententious style is not that of the golden age...
Evidently, Teuffel received ideas about golden and silver Latin from an existing tradition and embedded them in a new system, transforming them as he thought best.
In Cruttwell's introduction, the Golden Age is dated 80 BC – 14 AD (from
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero ( ; ; 3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC) was a Ancient Rome, Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher and Academic skepticism, Academic Skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during crisis of ...

to
Ovid
Pūblius Ovidius Nāsō (; 20 March 43 BC – 17/18 AD), known in English as Ovid ( ), was a Augustan literature (ancient Rome), Roman poet who lived during the reign of Augustus. He was a contemporary of the older Virgil and Horace, with whom ...

), which corresponds to Teuffel's findings. Of the "Second Period," Cruttwell paraphrases Teuffel by saying it "represents the highest excellence in prose and poetry." The Ciceronian Age (known today as the "Republican Period") is dated 80–42 BC, marked by the
Battle of Philippi
The Battle of Philippi was the final battle in the Wars of the Second Triumvirate between the forces of Mark Antony
Marcus Antonius (14 January 1 August 30 BC), commonly known in English as Mark Antony, was a Ancient Rome, Roman poli ...
. Cruttwell omits the first half of Teuffel's Ciceronian, and starts the Golden Age at Cicero's consulship in 63 BC—an error perpetuated in Cruttwell's second edition. He likely meant 80 BC, as he includes Varro in Golden Latin. Teuffel's Augustan Age is Cruttwell's Augustan Epoch (42 BC – 14 AD).
Republican

The literary histories list includes all authors from Canonical to the Ciceronian Age—even those whose works are fragmented or missing altogether. With the exception of a few major writers, such as Cicero, Caesar, Virgil and Catullus, ancient accounts of Republican literature praise jurists and orators whose writings, and analyses of various styles of language cannot be verified because there are no surviving records. The reputations of Aquilius Gallus,
Quintus Hortensius Hortalus
Quintus Hortensius Hortalus (114–50 BC) was a famous Roman
Roman or Romans usually refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*' ...
,
Lucius Licinius Lucullus, and many others who gained notoriety without readable works, are presumed by their association within the Golden Age. A list of canonical authors of the period whose works survived in whole or in part is shown here:
*
Marcus Terentius Varro
Marcus Terentius Varro (; 116–27 BC) was one of ancient Rome's greatest scholars and a prolific author. He is sometimes called Varro Reatinus to distinguish him from his younger contemporary Varro Atacinus.
Biography
Varro was born in or near ...
(116–27 BC), highly influential grammarian
*
Titus Pomponius Atticus
Titus Pomponius Atticus ( – 31 March 32 BC; also known as Quintus Caecilius Pomponianus) was a Roman editor, banker, and patron of letters, best known for his correspondence and close friendship with prominent Roman statesman Marcus Tullius ...
(112/109 – 35/32), publisher and correspondent of Cicero
*
Marcus Tullius Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero ( ; ; 3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC) was a Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*, the capital city of Italy
*, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*, the people of ancient ...

(106–43 BC), orator, philosopher, essayist, whose works define golden Latin prose and are used in Latin curricula beyond the elementary level
*
Servius Sulpicius RufusServius Sulpicius Rufus (c. 105 BC – 43 BC), was a Roman orator and jurist
A jurist is a person with expert knowledge of law; someone who analyses and comments on law. This person is usually a specialist legal scholarnot necessarily with a fo ...
(106–43 BC), jurist, poet
*
Decimus Laberius
Decimus Laberius (c. 105 BC43 BC) was a Ancient Rome, Roman Equestrian order, eques and writer of Theatre of ancient Rome#Roman comedy, mimes (farces).
Biography
Laberius seems to have been a man of caustic wit, who wrote for his own pleasure. In ...
(105–43 BC), writer of mimes
*
Marcus Furius Bibaculus
Marcus Furius Bibaculus (103 BC? BC), was a Ancient rome, Roman poet, who flourished during the last century of the Roman Republic, Republic.
Life
According to Jerome, he was born at Cremona, and probably lived to a great age. He wrote satirical ...
(1st century BC), writer of ''ludicra''
*
Gaius Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar (; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman people, Roman general and statesman who played a critical role in Crisis of the Roman Republic, the events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Rom ...

(100–44 BC), general, statesman, historian
*
Gaius Oppius
Gaius Oppius was an intimate friend of Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar (; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman people, Roman general and statesman who played a critical role in Crisis of the Roman Republic, the events that led to th ...
(1st century BC), secretary to Julius Caesar, probable author under Caesar's name
*
Gaius Matius (1st century BC), public figure, correspondent with Cicero
*
Cornelius Nepos
Cornelius Nepos (; c. 110 BC – c. 25 BC) was a Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*, the capital city of Italy
*, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*, the people of ancient Rome
*', shortened to ''Romans'' ...
(100–24 BC), biographer
*
Publilius Syrus
__NOTOC__
Publilius Syrus (fl.
''Floruit'' (), abbreviated fl. (or occasionally flor.), Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spok ...
(1st century BC), writer of mimes and maxims
*
Quintus Cornificius (1st century BC), public figure and writer on rhetoric
*
Titus Lucretius Carus
Titus Lucretius Carus ( , ; 99 – c. 55 BC) was a Roman poet
A poet is a person who creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be a writer of poetry, or may perform the ...
(Lucretius; 94–50 BC), poet, philosopher
*
Publius Nigidius Figulus (98–45 BC), public officer, grammarian
*
Aulus Hirtius
Aulus Hirtius (; – 43 BC) was consul
Consul (abbrev. ''cos.''; Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken in the area around R ...
(90–43 BC), public officer, military historian
*
Gaius Helvius Cinna (1st century BC), poet
*
Marcus Caelius Rufus
Marcus Caelius Rufus (28 May 82 BC – after 48 BC) was an orator
An orator, or oratist, is a public speaker, especially one who is eloquent or skilled.
Etymology
Recorded in English c. 1374, with a meaning of "one who pleads or argues for a cau ...
(87–48 BC), orator, correspondent with Cicero
*
Gaius Sallustius Crispus (86–34 BC), historian
*
Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis (Cato the Younger; 95–46 BC), orator
*
Publius Valerius Cato (1st century BC), poet, grammarian
*
Gaius Valerius Catullus
Gaius Valerius Catullus ( ; ; c. 84 – c. 54 BC) was a Latin poetry, Latin poet of the late Roman Republic who wrote chiefly in the neoteric style of poetry, focusing on personal life rather than classical heroes. Poetry of Catullus, His surv ...
(Catullus; 84–54 BC), poet
*
Gaius Licinius Macer Calvus (82–47 BC), orator, poet
Augustan
The Golden Age is divided by the assassination of
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar (; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*, the capital city of Italy
*, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*, the people of ancient Rome
*', shortened ...

. In the wars that followed, a generation of Republican literary figures was lost. Cicero and his contemporaries were replaced by a new generation who spent their formidable years under the old constructs, and forced to make their mark under the watchful eye of a new emperor. The demand for great orators had ceased, shifting to an emphasis on poetry. Other than the historian
Livy
Titus Livius (; 59 BC – AD 17), known in English as Livy ( ), was a Ancient Rome, Roman historian. He wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people, titled , covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome before the traditiona ...
, the most remarkable writers of the period were the poets
Virgil
Publius Vergilius Maro (; traditional dates 15 October 7021 September 19 BC), usually called Virgil or Vergil ( ) in English, was an ancient Rome, ancient Roman poet of the Augustan literature (ancient Rome), Augustan period. He composed three ...

,
Horace
Quintus Horatius Flaccus (; 8 December 65 – 27 November 8 BC), known in the English-speaking world as Horace (), was the leading Roman Empire, Roman Lyric poetry, lyric poet during the time of Augustus (also known as Octavian). The rhetoricia ...

, and
Ovid
Pūblius Ovidius Nāsō (; 20 March 43 BC – 17/18 AD), known in English as Ovid ( ), was a Augustan literature (ancient Rome), Roman poet who lived during the reign of Augustus. He was a contemporary of the older Virgil and Horace, with whom ...

. Although Augustus evidenced some toleration to republican sympathizers, he exiled Ovid, and imperial tolerance ended with the continuance of the
Julio-Claudian dynasty
, native_name_lang=Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken in the area around Rome, known as Latium. Through the power of the Rom ...
.
Augustan writers include:
*
Publius Vergilius Maro
Publius Vergilius Maro (; traditional dates 15 October 7021 September 19 BC), usually called Virgil or Vergil ( ) in English, was an ancient Rome, ancient Roman poet of the Augustan literature (ancient Rome), Augustan period. He composed three ...

(Virgil, spelled also as Vergil; 70 – 19 BC),
*
Quintus Horatius Flaccus
Quintus Horatius Flaccus (; 8 December 65 – 27 November 8 BC), known in the English-speaking world as Horace (), was the leading Roman Empire, Roman Lyric poetry, lyric poet during the time of Augustus (also known as Octavian). The rhetorician ...

(65 – 8 BC), known for lyric poetry and satires
*
(50 – 15 BC), poet
*
Albius Tibullus
Albius Tibullus ( BC19 BC) was a Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken in the area around Rome, known as Latium. Through the ...
(54–19 BC), elegiac poet
*
Publius Ovidius Naso
Pūblius Ovidius Nāsō (; 20 March 43 BC – 17/18 AD), known in English as Ovid ( ), was a Augustan literature (ancient Rome), Roman poet who lived during the reign of Augustus. He was a contemporary of the older Virgil and Horace, with whom h ...

(43 BC – AD 18), poet
*
Titus Livius
Titus Livius (; 59 BC – AD 17), known in English as Livy ( ), was a Ancient Rome, Roman historian. He wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people, titled , covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome before the traditiona ...
(64 BC – AD 12), historian
*
Grattius Faliscus (a contemporary of Ovid), poet
*
Marcus Manilius
Marcus Manilius (fl. 1st century AD) was a Roman poet, astrologer, and author of a poem in five books called ''Astronomica (Manilius), Astronomica''.
The ''Astronomica''
The author of ''Astronomica'' is neither quoted nor mentioned by any anc ...
(1st century BC and AD), astrologer, poet
*
Gaius Julius Hyginus
Gaius Julius Hyginus (; 64 BC – AD 17) was a Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken in the area around Rome, known as Latium. ...
(64 BC – AD 17), librarian, poet, mythographer
*
Marcus Verrius Flaccus
Marcus Verrius Flaccus (c. 55 BCAD 20) was a Ancient Rome, Roman grammarian and teacher who flourished under Augustus Caesar, Augustus and Tiberius.
Life
He was a freedman, and his manumitter has been identified with Verrius Flaccus, an authority ...
(55 BC – AD 20), grammarian, philologist, calendarist
*
Marcus Vitruvius Pollio
Vitruvius (; c. 80–70 BC – after c. 15 BC) was a Roman architect and engineer during the 1st century BC, known for his multi-volume work entitled ''De architectura
(''On architecture'', published as ''Ten Books on Architecture'') is ...

(80-70 BC — after 15 BC), engineer, architect
*
Marcus Antistius Labeo
Marcus Antistius Labeo (d. 10 or 11 AD) was an Ancient Roman
In historiography
Historiography is the study of the methods of historians in developing history as an academic discipline, and by extension is any body of historical work on ...
(d. AD 10 or 11), jurist, philologist
*
Lucius Cestius Pius (1st century BC & AD), Latin educator
*
Gnaeus Pompeius Trogus
Gnaeus Pompeius Trogus also anglicized as was a Gallo-Roman
The term "Gallo-Roman" describes the Romanization (cultural), Romanized culture of Gaul under the rule of the Roman Empire. This was characterized by the Gaulish adoption or adaptat ...
(1st century BC), historian, naturalist
*
Marcus Porcius Latro (late 1st century BC), rhetorician
*
Gaius Valgius Rufus (consul 12 BC), poet
Authors of the Silver Age

In his second volume, ''Imperial Period'', Teuffel initiated a slight alteration in approach, making it clear that his terms applied to Latin and not just to the period. He also changed his dating scheme from AUC to modern BC/AD. Though he introduces ''das silberne Zeitalter der römischen Literatur'', (The Silver Age of Roman Literature) from the death of Augustus to the death of
Trajan
Trajan ( ; la, Caesar Nerva Trajanus; 18 September 539/11 August 117) was Roman emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman Empire during the History of the Roman Empire, imperial period (starting in 27 BC). The emperors use ...

(14–117 AD), he also mentions parts of a work by
Seneca the Elder
Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Elder (; c. 54 BC – c. 39 AD), also known (less correctly) as Seneca the Rhetorician, was a Roman
Roman or Romans usually refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century B ...
, a ''wenig Einfluss der silbernen Latinität'' (a slight influence of silver Latin). It's clear that his mindset had shifted from Golden and Silver Ages to Golden and Silver Latin, also to include ''Latinitas'', which at this point must be interpreted as Classical Latin. He may have been influenced in that regard by one of his sources E. Opitz, who in 1852 had published ''specimen lexilogiae argenteae latinitatis'', which includes Silver Latinity. Though Teuffel's First Period was equivalent to
Old Latin
Old Latin, also known as Early Latin or Archaic Latin ( la, prīsca Latīnitās, lit=the Latinity of the ancients) was the Latin language
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language
A classical language is a language
A language is a ...
and his Second Period was equal to the Golden Age, his Third Period ''die römische Kaiserheit'' encompasses both the Silver Age and the centuries now termed
Late Latin
Late Latin ( la, Latinitas serior) is the scholarly name for the written Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken in the area around Rome, kn ...
, in which the forms seemed to break loose from their foundation and float freely. That is, men of literature were confounded about the meaning of "good Latin." The last iteration of Classical Latin is known as Silver Latin. The Silver Age is the first of the Imperial Period, and is divided into ''die Zeit der julischen Dynastie (''14–68); ''die Zeit der flavischen Dynastie'' (69–96), and ''die Zeit des Nerva und Trajan'' (96–117). Subsequently, Teuffel goes over to a century scheme: 2nd, 3rd, etc., through 6th. His later editions (which came about towards the end of the 19th century) divide the Imperial Age into parts: 1st century (Silver Age), 2nd century ( the
Hadrian
Hadrian (; la, Caesar Traianus Hadrianus ; 24 January 76 – 10 July 138) was Roman emperor from 117 to 138. He was born into a Roman Italo-Hispanic family, which settled in Spain from the Italian city of Atri, Abruzzo, Atri in Picenum. Hi ...

and the
Antonines), and the 3rd through 6th centuries. Of the Silver Age proper, Teuffel points out that anything like freedom of speech had vanished with
Tiberius
Tiberius Caesar Augustus (; 16 November 42 BC – 16 March AD 37) was the second Roman emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman Empire during the History of the Roman Empire, imperial period (starting in 27 BC). The emperors use ...

:
The content of new literary works was continually proscribed by the emperor, who exiled or executed existing authors and played the role of literary man, himself (typically badly). Artists therefore went into a repertory of new and dazzling mannerisms, which Teuffel calls "utter unreality." Cruttwell picks up this theme:

In Cruttwell's view (which had not been expressed by Teuffel), Silver Latin was a "rank, weed-grown garden," a "decline." Cruttwell had already decried what he saw as a loss of spontaneity in Golden Latin. Teuffel regarded the Silver Age as a loss of natural language, and therefore of spontaneity, implying that it was last seen in the Golden Age. Instead, Tiberius brought about a "sudden collapse of letters." The idea of a decline had been dominant in English society since
Edward Gibbon
Edward Gibbon (; 8 May 173716 January 1794) was an English
English usually refers to:
* English language
English is a West Germanic languages, West Germanic language first spoken in History of Anglo-Saxon England, early medieval En ...

's ''Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire''. Once again, Cruttwell evidences some unease with his stock pronouncements: "The ''Natural History'' of Pliny shows how much remained to be done in fields of great interest." The idea of Pliny as a model is not consistent with any sort of decline. Moreover, Pliny did his best work under emperors who were as tolerant as Augustus had been. To include some of the best writings of the Silver Age, Cruttwell extended the period through the death of
Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus ( ; 26 April 121 – 17 March 180) was a Roman emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman Empire during the History of the Roman Empire, imperial period (starting in 27 BC). The emperors used a vari ...

(180 AD). The philosophic prose of a good emperor was in no way compatible with either Teuffel's view of unnatural language, or Cruttwell's depiction of a decline. Having created these constructs, the two philologists found they could not entirely justify them. Apparently, in the worst implication of their views, there was no such thing as Classical Latin by the ancient definition, and some of the very best writing of any period in world history was deemed stilted, degenerate, unnatural language.
The Silver Age furnishes the only two extant Latin novels: Apuleius's ''
The Golden Ass
The ''Metamorphoses'' of Apuleius
Apuleius (; also called Lucius Apuleius Madaurensis; c. 124 – c. 170 AD) was a Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages ...
'' and Petronius's ''
Satyricon
The ''Satyricon'', ''Satyricon'' ''liber'' (''The Book of Satyrlike Adventures''), or ''Satyrica'', is a Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was ...

''.
Writers of the Silver Age include:
From the Ides of March to Trajan

*
Aulus Cremutius Cordus
Aulus Cremutius Cordus (died 25 AD) was a Roman historian
( 484– 425 BC) was a Greek historian who lived in the 5th century BC and one of the earliest historians whose work survives.
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the pas ...
(died AD 25), historian
*
Marcus Velleius Paterculus
Marcus Velleius Paterculus (; c. 19 BC – c. AD 31) was a Roman historian
( 484– 425 BC) was a Greek historian who lived in the 5th century BC and one of the earliest historians whose work survives.
A historian is a person who studies and ...
(19 BC – 31 AD), military officer, historian
*
Valerius Maximus
Valerius Maximus () was a 1st-century Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken in the area around Rome, known as Latium. Through t ...

(20 BC – 50 AD), rhetorician
*
Masurius Sabinus
Masurius Sabinus, also Massurius, was a Roman jurist
A jurist is a person with expert knowledge of law; someone who analyses and comments on law. This person is usually a specialist legal scholarnot necessarily with a formal qualification in ...
(1st century AD), jurist
*
Phaedrus (15 BC – AD 50), fabulist
*
Germanicus Julius Caesar
Germanicus Julius Caesar (24 May 15 BC – 10 October AD 19) was a popular and prominent general of the Roman Empire, known for his campaigns in Germania
Germania ( , ), also called Magna Germania (English: ''Great Germania''), Germania Libera ...
(15 BC – AD 19), royal family, imperial officer, translator
*
Aulus Cornelius Celsus
Aulus Cornelius Celsus ( 25 BC 50 AD) was a Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*, the capital city of Italy
*, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*, the people of ancient Rome
*', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

(25 BC – AD 50), physician, encyclopedist
*
Quintus Curtius Rufus
Quintus Curtius Rufus () was a Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*, the capital city of Italy
*, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*, the people of ancient Rome
*', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter in the New ...
(1st century AD), historian
*
Cornelius BocchusLucius Cornelius Bocchus was a Lusitanians, Lusitanian from Roman Empire, Roman Hispania who wrote about natural history. Ancient authors mention his writings, which are otherwise lost. Pliny the Elder provides an excerpt from the chronicle of Corn ...
(1st century AD), natural historian
*
Pomponius Mela
Pomponius Mela, who wrote around AD 43, was the earliest Roman geographer
;Pre-Hellenistic Classical Greece
*Homer
*Anaximander
*Hecataeus of Miletus
*Massaliote Periplus
*Scylax of Caryanda (6th century BC)
*Herodotus
;Hellenistic period
*Pyt ...
(d. AD 45), geographer
*
Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger (; AD65), usually known as Seneca, was a Ancient Rome, Roman Stoicism, Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and, in one work, satirist, from the post-Augustan age of Latin literature.
Seneca was born in Có ...
(4 BC – AD 65), educator, imperial advisor, philosopher, man of letters
*
Titus Calpurnius Siculus
Titus Calpurnius Siculus was a Roman bucolic poet. Eleven eclogue
An eclogue is a poem in a classical antiquity, classical style on a pastoral subject. Poems in the genre are sometimes also called bucolics.
Overview
The form of the word "eclogue" ...
(1st century AD or possibly later), poet
*
Marcus Valerius Probus
Marcus Valerius Probus, also known as M. Valerius Probus Berytius or Probus the Berytian
) or Laodicea in Canaan (2nd century to 64 BCE)
, image = St. George's Cathedral, Beirut.jpg
, image_size =
, alt =
, caption ...
(1st century AD), literary critic
*
(10 BC – AD 54), emperor, man of letters, public officer
*
Gaius Suetonius Paulinus
Gaius Suetonius Paulinus (fl. AD 41–69) was a Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus
, image_map = Map of comun ...
(1st century AD), general, natural historian
*
(AD 4 – 70), military officer, agriculturalist
*
Quintus Asconius Pedianus (9 BC – 76 AD), historian, Latinist
*
(AD 20 – 101), stoic philosopher
*
Quintus Marcius Barea Soranus (1st century AD), imperial officer and public man
* Pliny the Elder, Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23 – 79), imperial officer and encyclopedist
* Gaius Valerius Flaccus (1st century AD), epic poet
* Tiberius Catius Silius Italicus (AD 28 – 103), epic poet
* Gaius Licinius Mucianus (d. AD 76), general, man of letters
* Lucilius Junior (1st century AD), poet
* Aulus Persius Flaccus (34–62 AD), poet and satirist
* Quintilian, Marcus Fabius Quintilianus (35–100 AD), rhetorician
* Sextus Julius Frontinus (AD 40 – 103), engineer, writer
* Marcus Annaeus Lucanus (AD 39 – 65), poet, historian
* Publius Juventius Celsus Titus Aufidius Hoenius Severianus (1st and early 2nd centuries AD), imperial officer, jurist
* Aemilius Asper (1st and 2nd centuries AD), grammarian, literary critic
* Marcus Valerius Martialis (AD 40 – 104), poet, epigrammatist
* Publius Papinius Statius (AD 45 – 96), poet
* Decimus Junius Juvenalis (1st and 2nd centuries AD), poet, satirist
* Florus, Publius Annaeus Florus (1st and 2nd centuries AD), poet, rhetorician and probable author of the epitome of Livy
* Velius Longus (1st and 2nd centuries AD), grammarian, literary critic
* Flavius Caper (1st and 2nd centuries AD), grammarian
* Tacitus, Publius or Gaius Cornelius Tacitus (AD 56 − 120), imperial officer, historian and in Teuffel's view "the last classic of Roman literature."
* Pliny the Younger, Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus (AD 62 – 114), historian, imperial officer and correspondent
Through the death of Marcus Aurelius, 180 AD
Of the additional century granted by Cruttwell to Silver Latin, Teuffel says: "The second century was a happy period for the Roman State, the happiest indeed during the whole Empire... But in the world of letters the lassitude and enervation, which told of Rome's decline, became unmistakeable... its forte is in imitation." Teuffel, however, excepts the jurists; others find other "exceptions", recasting Teuffels's view.
* Suetonius, Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus (70/75 – after 130 AD), biographer
* Justin (historian), Marcus Junianus Justinus (2nd century AD), historian
* Salvius Julianus, Lucius Octavius Cornelius Publius Salvius Julianus Aemilianus (AD 110–170), imperial officer, jurist
* Sextus Pomponius (2nd century AD), jurist
* Quintus Terentius Scaurus (2nd century AD), grammarian, literary critic
*
Aulus Gellius
Aulus Gellius (c. 125after 180 AD) was a Roman author and grammarian, who was probably born and certainly brought up in Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus
, image_map ...
(AD 125 – after 180), grammarian, polymath
* Lucius Apuleius Platonicus (123/125–180 AD), novelist
*
Marcus Cornelius Fronto
Marcus Cornelius Fronto (c. 100late 160s), best known as Fronto, was a Roman grammarian, rhetorician, and advocate. Of Berber origin, he was born at Cirta in Numidia. He was suffect consul for the '' nundinium'' of July-August 142 with Gaius La ...
(AD 100–170), advocate, grammarian
* Gaius Sulpicius Apollinaris (2nd century AD), educator, literary commentator
* Granius Licinianus (2nd century AD), writer
* Lucius Ampelius (2nd century AD), educator
* Gaius (jurist), Gaius (AD 130–180), jurist
* Lucius Volusius Maecianus (2nd century AD), educator, jurist
* Marcus Minucius Felix (d. AD 250), apologist of Christianity, "the first Christian work in Latin" (Teuffel)
* Sextus Julius Africanus (2nd century AD), Christian historian
*
Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus ( ; 26 April 121 – 17 March 180) was a Roman emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman Empire during the History of the Roman Empire, imperial period (starting in 27 BC). The emperors used a vari ...

Antoninus Augustus (121–180 AD, stoic philosopher, Emperor in Latin, essayist in ancient Greek, role model of the last generation of classicists (Cruttwell)
Stylistic shifts
Style (fiction), Style of language refers to repeatable features of speech that are somewhat less general than the fundamental characteristics of a language. The latter provides unity, allowing it to be referred to by a single name. Thus Old Latin, Classical Latin,
Vulgar Latin
Vulgar Latin, also known as Popular or Colloquial Latin, is non-literary
Literature broadly is any collection of written
Writing is a medium of human communication
Communication (from Latin ''communicare'', meaning "to share") is th ...
, etc., are not considered different languages, but are all referred to by the term, Latin. This is an ancient practice continued by moderns rather than a philological innovation of recent times. That Latin had case endings is a fundamental feature of the language. Whether a given form of speech prefers to use prepositions such as ''ad'', ''ex'', ''de,'' for "to," "from" and "of" rather than simple case endings is a matter of style. Latin has a large number of styles. Each and every author has a style, which typically allows his prose or poetry to be identified by experienced Latinists. Problems in comparative literature have risen out of group styles finding similarity by period, in which case one may speak of Old Latin, Silver Latin, Late Latin as styles or a phase of styles.
The ancient authors themselves first defined style by recognizing different kinds of ''sermo'', or "speech". By valuing Classical Latin as "first class", it was better to write with ''Latinitas'' selected by authors who were attuned to literary and upper-class languages of the city as a standardized style. All ''sermo'' that differed from it was a different style. Thus, in rhetoric, Cicero was able to define sublime, intermediate, and low styles within Classical Latin. St. Augustine recommended low style for sermons. Style was to be defined by deviation in speech from a standard. Teuffel termed this standard "Golden Latin".
John Edwin Sandys, who was an authority in Latin style for several decades, summarizes the differences between Golden and Silver Latin as follows:
Silver Latin is to be distinguished by:
* "an exaggerated conciseness and point"
* "occasional archaic words and phrases derived from poetry"
* "increase in the number of Greek words in ordinary use" (the Emperor Claudius in Suetonius refers to "both our languages," Latin and Greek
[Suetonius, Claudius, 24.1.])
* "literary reminiscences"
* "The literary use of words from the common dialect" (''dictare'' and ''dictitare'' as well as classical ''dicere'', "to say")
See also
* Classic
* Classical antiquity
* Classics
* Ecclesiastical Latin
*
Late Latin
Late Latin ( la, Latinitas serior) is the scholarly name for the written Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken in the area around Rome, kn ...
* Latin
*
Latin literature
Latin literature includes the essays, histories, poems, plays, and other writings written in the Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originall ...
* Medieval Latin
* New Latin
* Social class in ancient Rome
Notes
References
Citations
General sources
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Further reading
* Allen, William Sidney. 1978. ''Vox Latina: A Guide to the Pronunciation of Classical Latin''. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
*
* Dickey, Eleanor. 2012. "How to Say 'Please' in Classical Latin". ''The Classical Quarterly'' 62, no. 2: 731–48. .
* Getty, Robert J. 1963. "Classical Latin meter and prosody, 1935–1962". ''Lustrum'' 8: 104–60.
* Levene, David. 1997. "God and man in the Classical Latin panegyric". ''Proceedings of the Cambridge Philological Society'' 43: 66–103.
* Lovric, Michelle, and Nikiforos Doxiadis Mardas. 1998. ''How to Insult, Abuse & Insinuate In Classical Latin''. London: Ebury Press.
* Rosén, Hannah. 1999. ''Latine Loqui: Trends and Directions In the Crystallization of Classical Latin''. München: W. Fink.
* Spevak, Olga. 2010. ''Constituent Order In Classical Latin Prose''. Amsterdam: J. Benjamins.
*
External links
The Latin LibraryThe Latin Library, Public domain Latin texts
Latin Textsat the Perseus Project, Perseus Collection
Greek and Roman Authors on LacusCurtiusClassical Latin Textsat the Packard Humanities Institute
Latin Textsat Attalus
A collection of Latin and Greek textsat the Schola Latina
{{Ancient Rome topics , collapsed
Classical Latin literature,
1st-century BC establishments in the Roman Republic
3rd-century disestablishments
Classical languages, Latin
Forms of Latin, 2 Classical
Languages attested from the 1st century BC
Languages extinct in the 3rd century
Latin language in ancient Rome
es:Latín clásico