The Roman senator and historian Publius Cornelius Tacitus (55-120) held the highest political offices under several emperors. From 88 he was praetor, from 97 consul and from 112 governor of the province of Asia. He was considered one of the most important orators of his time; his oratory was stylistically oriented towards Cicero (curiously, Tacitus means "the silent one"). Tacitus was committed to the maxim "sine ira et studio" (Latin for "without anger and zeal" = praise no one too much and hate no one), but often did not adhere to this principle and took sides. He wrote an extensive work of cultural history, but only dared to publish his writings after the death of the dictatorial Emperor Domitian (51-96). For he basically rejected the monarchy and repeatedly lamented the loss of senatorial freedom.
The work "Agricola" is an excursus on Britain and "Germania" a description of the landscape and inhabitants of Germania. In the latter he reports on the drinking habits of the Germanic tribes along the Rhine and mentions that viticulture was unknown there. His most important works were "Dialogus" (causes of the decline of eloquence), "Historiae" (time of the Flavians) and "Annales" (time from the death of Augustus to Domitian), in which he draws a psychological historical picture of the rulers of this time in an illusionless and rather pessimistic manner. In the "Annales" he reports on a Carthaginian wine made from dried grapes. See also a list of famous authors under Literature..
Statue: by Pe-Jo - Own work, Public domain, Link
Annals: by Tacitus, Public domain, Link
Complete Works: Public Domain, Link
