Seneca the Elder

Andreas Michalopoulos (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)

Ed. by William John Dominik, University of Otago
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.1.2: Ancient Roman Writing and Culture (Republic and Empire), -750-476.
Vol. editors: Eleni Bozia (University of Florida), Anca Dan (École Practique de Hautes Études PSL), Martine Diepenbroek (University of Johannesburg), William John Dominik (University of Otago), Giacomo Fedeli (University of Exeter), Victoria Fendel (University of Oxford), Thomas Habinek (University of Southern California), Emily Kneebone (University of Nottingham), Elodie Paillard (University of Sydney), Sophia Papaioannou (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Guendalina Daniela Maria Taietti (University of Liverpool), Jula Wildberger (American University of Paris)

Dates

Born c. -55
Died c. 39
Activity c. -35-c. 39

Places

Born in Ancient Rome (Republic & Empire)
Active in Ancient Rome (Republic & Empire)

Activities

Primary

Historian / Chronicler
Rhetorician/ Orator

Resources

Lucius Annaeus Seneca (Seneca “the Elder” or “the Rhetor”) is the father of Lucius Annaeus Seneca the dramatist and philosopher (Seneca “the Younger”). He is also the grandfather of the epic poet Marcus Annaeus Lucanus, author of the historical epic Pharsalia or Bellum civile.

Life

Unfortunately not much is known about Seneca’s life. His son, Seneca the younger, wrote a biography of his father, under the title De vita patris, which has not come down to us. Certain details of his life can be drawn from Seneca the younger’s Consolatio ad Helviam and Epist. The rest is drawn from Seneca the Elder’s own work.

Lucius Annaeus Seneca was born in Cordoba (Spain) around 55 BCE to a wealthy equestrian family (Tac. Ann. 14.53). His family had the means of sending him to Rome to study,...

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1194 words

Citation: Michalopoulos, Andreas. "Seneca the Elder". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 29 October 2009 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=4013, accessed 09 June 2026.]

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