Livius Andronicus

Lucius Livius Andronicus (280/260 BCE?–200 BCE?), was a Greco-Roman dramatist and epic poet who produced the first Roman dramatic work and translated many Greek works into Latin. He is regarded as the father of Roman drama and epic poetry.

Andronicus was probably born in the Greek colony of Tarentum (now Taranto, Italy), and was made a slave to a Livian noble. After being freed and adopting the name of his former master, Andronicus taught and produced for the uncultured Romans their first formal play, a translation of a Greek drama, in 240 BCE. His most important work is Odysseia, a Latin version of Homer's Odyssey, written in Saturnian verses. He is also quoted as producing various other poems.