Livius Andronicus (c.284-204 B.C.) was a major Roman literary figured known as the father of Roman literature, introducing Rome to Greek epic, lyric and drama. He translated the Odyssey into Latin in the native Saturnian meter, of which 46 lines survive, to use as teaching material for Roman students since there wasn't yet any Roman literature. It was still in use at the time of Horace and became a linguistic curiosity to Roman grammarians.
In the first year of peace following the first Punic War, Romans, now familiar with Greek drama through contact during the war with Greek culture, wanted some drama of their own, so Livius Andronicus was selected by the aediles to produce works of comedy and tragedy for the Roman games (ludi). And so in 240, probably, the first ludi scaenici were added to the ludi circenses.
Livy says Livius Andronicus introduced plot into Roman comedy. We know the names of at least 8 of Livius Andronicus' tragedies, with a few lines surviving. We know even less about his comedies.
Livius Andronicus may have come from the Greek city of Tarentum and taken prisoner when Rome took the city in 272.
Sources:
- "Livius Andronicus, Lucius" The Concise Oxford Companion to Classical Literature. Ed. M.C. Howatson and Ian Chilvers. Oxford University Press, 1996.
- Roman Literature, by Augustus Samuel Wilkins
