Who belonged to the literary circle around Scipio Aemilianus?

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In the context of Latin literature, the "Scipionic circle" was a prominent coterie of intellectuals and aristocrats who gathered around the Roman general and statesman Scipio Aemilianus to promote Greek culture and literature in Rome.1

Members and associates of this circle included:

  • Gaius Laelius: A noted statesman and orator.1
  • Polybius: A Greek historian who served as a mentor to Scipio.21
  • Panaetius: A Greek Stoic philosopher.1
  • Gaius Lucilius: The satirist who pioneered the genre of poetical satire.13
  • Terence: The comic playwright; while historical evidence is limited, later Roman tradition often associated him with the circle.14

Modern scholars note that the concept of the "Scipionic circle" as a formal group with coherent political and cultural ideals was largely constructed by Cicero in his philosophical dialogues, such as De republica and De amicitia, where he depicted these figures in conversation.5