Hostius was the author of an epic poem, Bellum Histricum, which was at least two books long.[1] It is uncertain which Istrian war was the subject of this poem, but scholars generally consider the second war (129 BC) is more likely, as the first (178–7) had already been treated by Ennius in his Annales.[2] Only seven fragments of Hostius' poem survive,[3] but it was probably in the panegyric style which was common in the Hellenistic period.[4]

Based on a reference to a doctus avus ("learned ancestor") in a poem by Propertius, many scholars believe that his lover Cynthia – whose real name was apparently Hostia – was descended from Hostius.[4] Edward Courtney doubts this, arguing that the girl addressed in the poem is not Cynthia.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Courtney, Edward. "Hostius". Oxford Classical Dictionary (4th ed.).
  2. ↑ Casali, Sergio (2006). "The Poet at War: Ennius on the Field in Silius's "Punica"". Arethusa. 39 (3): 593. JSTOR 44578937.
  3. ↑ Courtney, Edward. "Hostius". Brill's New Pauly. doi:10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e518240.
  4. 1 2 3 Courtney, Edward (2003). Fragmentary Latin Poets. Oxford University Press: Oxford. p. 52.


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