STATIUS, (Publius Papinius), a celebrated Latin poet of the firſt century, was born at Naples, and was the ſon of Statius, a native of Epirus, who went to Rome to teach poetry and eloquence, and had Domitian for his ſcholar. Statius the poet alſo obtained the favour and friendſhip of that prince; and dedicated to him his Thebais and Achilleis; the firſt in twelve books, and the laſt in two. He died at Naples about the year 100. Beſides the above poems, there are alſo ſtill extant his Sylvas, in five books; the ſtyle of which is purer, more agreeable, and more natural, than that of his Thebais and Achilleis.