<P> Quintus Ennius ( / ˈkwɪntəs ˈɛniəs / ; c. 239 -- c. 169 BC ) was a writer and poet who lived during the Roman Republic . He is often considered the father of Roman poetry . He was an Oscan ( a linguistic group of peoples who lived in parts of central and southern Italy ) from Calabria ( the ancient name for the Salento , the peninsula which forms southern Apulia ) . Although only fragments of his works survive , his influence in Latin literature was significant , particularly in his use of Greek literary models . </P>
who was known as the father of roman poetry and wrote annales an epic poem about the history of rome
Quintus Ennius