Astronomica

work by Manilius

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June 18, 2026

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Astronomica is an unfinished poem by Marcus Manilius, a Roman didactic poet who flourished in the 1st century AD. Likely written between 14 and 27 AD, the work covers astronomy and astrology.1

Following the style of poets like Lucretius, Virgil, and Ovid, Manilius emphasizes a divinely ordered world governed by reason. The poem is known for its intricate versification of astronomical calculations and its engaging prefaces and digressions. The five existing books contain approximately 4,000 lines of hexameter verse.1

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Marcus Manilius
He was the author of Astronomica, an unfinished poem on astronomy and astrology probably written between the years ad 14 and 27. Following the style and philosophy of Lucretius, Virgil, and Ovid, Manilius stresses the providential government of the world and the operation of divine reason. He exercises his amazing…
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He was the author of Astronomica, an unfinished poem on astronomy and astrology probably written between the years ad 14 and 27. Following the style and philosophy of Lucretius, Virgil, and Ovid, Manilius stresses the providential government of the world and the operation of divine reason. He exercises his amazing…
Read More