Valerius Flaccus Setinus Balbus

Date of birth unknown; died circa 90 A.D. Roman poet.

Valerius Flaccus revised a Latin translation of Apollonius of Rhodes’ epic poem Argonautica in the style of Vergil’s Aeneid. He introduced his own treatment of certain episodes as well as mention of an expedition to Britain by Emperor Vespasian, to whom he dedicated this work. Only eight incomplete books of Valerius Flaccus’ epic poem have come down to us. The poem breaks off in the middle of the story of the Argonauts’ arrival at the Danube. Valerius Flaccus’ work contains some interesting information about the peoples who lived along the coast of the Black Sea.