Today’s poem consist of extracts from De Rerum Natura (on the nature of things) by Lucretius. He was a follower of the Greek philosopher Epicurus, who taught that humanity should free itself from fear of the Gods, death and the tomb. See Lucretius’s poet page here, and hear the poetry in Latin and follow in English here.
In the illustration by Boulanger, the people bustling along the Appian Way do not seem to be taking much notice of the tombs which line the road, according to Roman custom.
