Publius Lollius Maximus
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Maximus was a member of the plebeian gens Lollia.[4] His name is often mentioned in Latin poetry which occurs in a later inscription.[5]
The father of Maximus had owned a country estate.[5] His father may have been Marcus Lollius consul in 21 BC, or at least a very close relation of the older Lollius[3] who was in high favor with Augustus.[1] If so, his immediate family would have included Marcus Lollius as his brother, and he could have been the uncle of Lollia Saturnina and the Roman empress Lollia Paulina.[6]
Career and Horace
Maximus had served as a Roman soldier in Hispania against the Cantabri[6] under Augustus from 27 BC until 25 BC.[5] When Maximus returned to Rome from Hispania, he became a student in studying Rhetoric.[7][8] Maximus being a young man, became a friend of the Roman Poet Horace.[7]
In Horace's Epistles I, 2 and 18, are addressed to Maximus.[6][1] In Epistle 2, Horace tells Maximus to read the epic poems of Homer again, to find a better expounder of ethics than the philosophers (1-4). Horace wants Maximus to learn what follies to avoid from the Iliad (5-16) and what virtues to cultivate from the Odyssey (17-26).[5]
In Epistle 18, reveals the career of Maximus.[3] He is experiencing problems as being a courtier. If his nobility is recent, this might expose Maximus to all sort of snubs in the hierarchy of Roman society.[3] Horace is advising Maximus that affability is the means between toadying and truculence, which is a virtue in social relationships. If he wants to maintain his position he will need to be accommodating in an agreeing way.[3]
Maximus must learn to respect the wishes of his superior's friend. In the Epistle, Horace never reveals who is Maximus’ superior friend, however he may have been a personage of princely descent as he is someone who enjoys a re-creation of the Battle of Actium in a country fish-pond.[9] Maximus needs advice on treading the path of independence with a hierarchical aristocracy now transforming itself into a royal court.[9] Maximus seems already on top and secure with his wealth, success, superior friends and some point in due course would want to remove his himself from the world.[10]
At this time Maximus, may have turned his hand to poetry and must have been offered a post in the Retinue of the future Roman emperor Tiberius.[11] The date of this event, may have taken place in 20 BC.[11]