Annalist

Definition: Early Roman annalist historians wrote in Greek. Their numbers include Fabius Pictor, Cincius Alimentus, Postumius Albinus, and C. Acilius during the first half of the second century B.C. They were followed by Cato the censor, author of the Origines, which he wrote in Latin. Cato was followed by Cassius Hemina and Calpurnius Piso in the second half of the second century -- also in Latin. It was in 130 B.C. that the pontifex maximus had the (annual) annales maximi published in 80 books, covering from earliest history (including speculation about the legendary period) up to 130. Roman historians used this source. Livy followed both the narrative style of the published annales maximi and its content.