Disjecta membra Disjecta membra , also written , is Latin for "scattered fragments" (also scattered limbs, members, or remains) and is used to refer to surviving fragments of ancient poetry, manuscripts, and other literary or cultural objects, including even fragments of ancient pottery. It is derived from , a phrase used by Horace, a Roman poet. Fragments of ancient writing, especially ancient Latin poetry found in other works are commonly referred to as "disjecta membra". The terms "disiecta membra" and "disjecta membra" are paraphrased from the Roman lyric poet Horace (65 BC – 8 BC), who wrote of in his "Satires", 1.4.62,
Latin literature in writing as a means of influencing public opinion. Early Latin literature ended with Gaius Lucilius, who created a new kind of poetry in his 30 books of "Satires" (2nd century BC). He wrote in an easy, conversational tone about books, food, friends, and current events. Traditionally, the height of Latin literature has been assigned to the period from 81 BC to AD 17, although recent scholarship has questioned the assumptions that privileged the works of this period over both earlier and later works. This period is usually said to have begun with the first known speech of Cicero and