title: 2nd century BC in poetry
text: # 2nd century BC in poetry
  
  ## China
  
  ### Poets (by date of birth)
  
  * Jia Yi (200 - 168 BCE)
  * Sima Xiangru (179-117 BCE), Western Han
  * Sima Qian (145 - ? BCE)
  
  ## South Asia
  
  ### Poets
  
  * Approximate time of Tiruvalluvar (300 - 100 BCE), writing in Tamil
  
  ### Works
  
  Compilation of the Pathinenmaelkanakku (Eighteen Major Anthology Series) of early Tamil poetry.
  
  ## Mediterranean world
  
  ### Poets (by date of birth)
  
  * Antipater of Sidon
  * Lucius Afranius (poet)
  
  ### Works
  
  * likely latest date for the Book of Proverbs, written in Hebrew
  