Marcus Terentius Varro

Roman scholar, polymath and author (116–27 BC)

Source-basedFalling

Lived -116–-27, aged 89

WritersWriter / Author

Fame9.8
Momentum0.0
Wikipedia6.4K

Wikipedia
55 languages
Cross-language footprint
Era
-116–-27
Aged 89

Summary

Updated 2026-05-29

Rome's most prolific scholar and polymath, Varro authored so much that Petrarch called him one of Rome's three greatest intellects. His output was staggering enough that later generations needed a nickname to separate him from every other Varro worth mentioning.

Biography

About

Marcus Terentius Varro was a Roman polymath and a prolific author. He is regarded as ancient Rome's greatest scholar, and was described by Petrarch as "the third great light of Rome". He is sometimes called Varro Reatinus to distinguish him from his younger contemporary Varro Atacinus.

Profile