Lucretius

Titus Lucretius Carus (c. 99–55 BC) was a Roman poet and philosopher best known for his epic philosophical poem De Rerum Natura (On the Nature of Things). Little is known about his life, but his surviving work presents a detailed and poetic account of the universe based on the teachings of the Greek philosopher Epicurus. Lucretius argued that everything in nature is composed of atoms and that the gods do not interfere in human affairs. His poetry explores the nature of matter, the soul, mortality, the senses, and the origins of the world. Written in elegant and powerful Latin verse, De Rerum Natura became one of the most important works of ancient Roman literature and had a lasting influence on later philosophy, science, and literature.