Lucretius was born in 99 BC, and On the type of Stuff is his only surviving function. His aim was to free of charge the Roman globe from its two great terrors – the gods and death. Lucretius argues the fact that gods are not actively involved in life, so do not need to be appeased; and that death may be the end of everything individual – body and soul – and for that reason should not be feared. But On the type of Things is also a poem of stunning imagery, intimate natural observation and touching pathos. It really is one of the most important writings in Western thought.