In the heart of ancient Rome, around 94 B.C., emerged Titus Lucretius Carus, more commonly celebrated simply as Lucretius. His life is shrouded in mystery, yet the echoes of his profound worldview resonate through his magnum opus, the epic poem De rerum natura, or On the Nature of Things. The details of Lucretius' education, family lineage, and literary evolution remain elusive. A tantalizing enigma surrounds his social status: while "Carus" hints at servitude, "Lucretius" conjures images of nobility. Scholars speculate that his six-volume epic was never completed. Within its pages, Lucretius ardently urges readers to cast aside the dread of death—a conviction he seemingly took to heart when he reportedly ended his own life around 55 B.C. A persistent, albeit dubious, tale recounted by the historian Jerome suggests that Lucretius' mind was unhinged by a love potion administered by his spouse.

Amidst his lifetime, Rome was a cauldron of political strife and warfare, a backdrop that Lucretius knew all too well. He bore witness to the harsh cruelty and overbearing might of despots and the chaos their reigns brought. He lived through the crumbling of Rome’s republican ideals, leaving the world before the dawn of renewed order. Possessing a profound empathy for humankind, Lucretius saw people shackled by fear and ignorance. He sharply criticized religious figures who wielded fear as a tool to enforce moral behavior. A devoted adherent of Epicurus, Lucretius championed a scientific and rational comprehension of the universe. His influence cascaded down the ages, leaving an indelible mark on literary giants such as Virgil and Ovid.