Albius Tibullus was born around 55 BC. Little is known about his life. Later references to his life are often short and many are of a doubtful factual basis.

His chief friend and patron was the orator, poet, statesman and commander Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus, who is most noted for putting down a revolt in the Aquitaine, in modern day France. Tibullus may have fought for him or been part of his inner circle arounds that time.

The only certain works that survive are his two poetry books although many others have been wrongly attributed to him. We have included Book 3 and part of Book 4 on this basis. 

Tibullus died prematurely, most probably in 19 BC and very shortly after the death of Virgil. His death was deeply felt in Rome and an Elegy written by Ovid pays due homage to this.

Portable Poetry

The Elegies of Tibullus: 'Soon Death, with shadow-mantled head, will come''

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