Which of the following writers is known for depicting the Punic Wars in his epic works?

The writer known for depicting the Punic Wars is actually not Francesco Petrarch. The correct association for the depiction of the Punic Wars is with Virgil, particularly in his epic work, the "Aeneid." Virgil, writing in the Augustan period, infused elements of Roman history, including the conflicts between Rome and Carthage which were pivotal in shaping early Roman identity.

Petrarch, who came later during the Renaissance, is recognized for his poetry and humanist scholarship rather than for historical epic narratives like Virgil. Homer, known for the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey," focused on the events of the Trojan War in ancient Greece, while Ovid is famed for his mythological tales in "Metamorphoses," but he did not tackle the historical aspects of the Punic Wars either. Understanding Virgil's work in the context of Roman literature provides critical insights into the values and historical narratives that were foundational for Rome and its identity.