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