Why were Horace’s Satires and Epistles read more often than his Odes during the Middle Ages?

During the Middle Ages, Horace’s Satires and Epistles were read more frequently than his Odes primarily because of their moralistic tone, which aligned better with the sensibilities of the medieval period.1

While the Odes were highly regarded for their literary excellence, they did not appeal to the era's prevailing sense of piety. In contrast, the Satires and Epistles provided didactic content and reflections on ethics that were more compatible with the intellectual and moral climate of the time. Consequently, while the Odes largely fell out of use during the medieval epoch, the Satires and Epistles remained in circulation due to their perceived utility in teaching and moral guidance.12