Pronunciation: [lˈuːʃəs ɐkˈɪəs] (IPA) 
Lucius Accius was a Roman tragic poet known for his playwriting during the late 2nd century BCE. The correct spelling of his name in English would be /luːʃiəs/ /ækˈsiːəs/, with the stress on the second syllable of each name. The pronunciation of the letter "c" in Accius is hard, as in the word "cat" rather than soft as in "cent." Accius' works were highly regarded in ancient Rome, and his style influenced many later writers.
Lucius Accius was a Roman tragic poet and dramatist who lived from 170 BC to 86 BC. He is often considered one of the greatest writers of tragedies in ancient Rome. Accius was born in Pisaurum, a Roman colony in present-day Italy, and his works were highly praised during his time.
Accius wrote around 50 plays, of which only fragmentary pieces have survived. He followed the traditions of Greek tragedy but adapted them to Roman language and culture. His plays, characterized by their strong moral and philosophical themes, often depicted famous historical events or mythical figures. Accius believed in the power of tragedy to educate and inspire, aiming to teach moral lessons and convey the consequences of human actions.
Though Accius was deeply respected and admired, his style and themes were sometimes criticized as being archaic and too focused on moralizing rather than entertaining. Nevertheless, his works were popular and exhibited a high level of craftsmanship. Accius was considered the successor to the renowned tragedian Quintus Ennius and was often compared to him.
In addition to writing plays, Accius also ventured into other literary genres, including didactic poetry and epic poems. However, his tragedies remained his most famous and enduring works. Despite the loss of the majority of his plays, Accius' contributions to Roman literature and tragedy are highly regarded, and he played an influential role in shaping the development of Roman drama.
