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Lucan

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Poet

The Resume

    (November 3, 39-April 30, 65)
    Born in Cordoba, Spain
    Full name was Marcus Annaeus Lucanus
    Nephew of Seneca
    Wrote the epic poem 'Pharsalia' ('On the Civil War')

Why he might be annoying:

    His contemporaries mention a lot of other works by him, none of which survived.
    'Pharsalia' was never completed.
    He originally was best buds with Emperor Nero, who appointed him to a political office when he was below the legal age.
    After a falling out, he joined an unsuccessful conspiracy to assassinate Nero.
    In hopes of obtaining a pardon, he named other conspirators, including his mother.
    It didn't work and he was ordered to commit suicide.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He praised the Roman Republic in 'Pharsalia,' which may have been the cause of his feud with Nero.
    While bleeding to death, he recited a poem he wrote about a soldier dying the same way.
    Despite being ratted out, his mother survived the crackdown that followed the assassination plot.
    After Nero died, Lucan's birthday was celebrated as a public festival.
    Percy Bysshe Shelley and Robert Southey considered him a superior poet to Virgil.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 14 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 19 Votes: 47.37% Annoying