How did Ennius honor Naevius in his writings?

Ennius honored Naevius by omitting the First Punic War from the Annales, which is significant because Naevius was often associated with this conflict through his works. By choosing to exclude this pivotal event from his own epic narrative, Ennius was making a statement about his predecessor's contributions and possibly drawing attention to their differing perspectives. Naevius was known for his epic poem that focused on Roman history, including the events of the First Punic War.

This omission indicates that Ennius aimed to craft his own identity and narrative style while still acknowledging the literary legacy of Naevius. It served as a subtle homage, allowing Ennius to build upon the foundations laid by Naevius without following his specific narrative arc, effectively paying tribute by creating his own representation of Roman history.