 He is included in narratives as diverse as Mary Renault's modern historical novel "The Praise Singer" (where he is the narrator and main character), Plato's "Protagoras" (where he is a topic of conversation), and some verses in Callimachus' "Aetia" (where he is portrayed as a ghost complaining about the desecration of his own tomb in Acragas).Few clear facts about Simonides' life have come down to modern times in spite of his fame and influence.Ancient sources are uncertain even about the date of his birth.