Maecenas

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The Word of the Day for November 6 is: 

Maecenas   \mih-SEE-nus\   noun
      : a generous patron especially of literature or art

Example sentence:
          Donations from Maecenases of Yiddish literature have greatly enriched 
the library’s collection. 

Did you know?
     Although the ancient Roman Gaius Maecenas was a well-known diplomat and 
counselor to Emperor Augustus, it was his munificent patronage of literature 
that immortalized his name as a word for “a generous patron.” A writer himself, 
Maecenas knew of the power of poetry and viewed it as a way to glorify 
Augustus’s regime. Among the poets he patronized were the celebrated Virgil and 
Horace -- both of whom he befriended. Maecenas has also been credited with 
encouraging both writers to focus more on topics of public interest, such as 
affairs of state.





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