Publius Papinius Statius (c. 45 – 96 AD) was a Roman Latin poet of the Silver Age, best known for his epic poems 'Thebaid' and 'Achilleid', and the collection 'Silvae'. He flourished under the Flavian dynasty, gaining imperial patronage. His works blend Greek mythology with Roman rhetoric, influencing later European literature, notably Dante's 'Divine Comedy'.
