Livy
TITUS LIVIUS PATAVINUS, a Roman historian of the Augustan age; born in Patavium (now Padua), Italy, 59 в. c., according to Varro, or in 61 according to Cato; appears to have gone to Rome during the reign of Augustus, where his literary talents soon obtained for him the favor and patronage of the emperor. As an admirer of the ancient institutions of his country, Livy attached himself in opinion to the party of Pompey. Augustus, entertaining a sincere regard for the historian, did not allow his friendship and patronage to be affected by political opinions, though they seemed to call in question the right by which he ruled the destinies of Rome.
Having spent the greater part of his life in the metropolis, he returned in old age to the town of his birth, and there died A. D. 18, in the 77th year of his age.
Livy has erected for himself an enduring monument in his "History of Rome."
This great work, which he modestly designated "Annales" (Annals), contained the history of the Roman State from the earliest period till the death of Drusus, 9 B. C., and originally consisted of 142 books. Only 35 of these have deof 142 books. Only 35 of these have descended to us; of the others, with the or short summaries, but the books themselves have been entirely lost.