'''Lucretius (Titus Lucretius Carus, c. 94-c. 55 BC).'''
Lucretius was a Roman Epicurean [[philosopher ]] and poet, author of a six-book hexameter poem ''De Rerum Natura'' (''DRN'' ''On the Nature of the Universe''). In this he expounds Epicurean physics, based on the atomic theory of matter, and ethics, which seek to free the human mind from fear of the gods, death, and fate, caused by superstition (''religio'').
This is the single most important source for Epicureanism, and ranks as one of the greatest achievements of both Roman philosophy and Latin poetry. Generally Lucretius is ranked with, or second to, Vergil, as one of the finest of all Latin poets, and indeed Vergil, himself a former Epicurean, was heavily indebted to him as an inspiration and a source.
Very little is known directly about his life. The only contemporary reference to him is in Cicero’s letter of Feb. 54 BC to his brother Quintus (''QFr''. 2.10(9).3) in which he praises the poems of Lucretius for showing flashes of genius and great artistry. This suggests strongly that ''DRN'' was already published by this date.