Ermil Ivanovich Kostrov was a Russian translator and poet who was the first in Russia to translate Homer's "Iliad" and Apuleius' "Golden Ass." His translation of Apuleius remained the only one until the early 20th century. Catherine II, impressed by the translation of the "Iliad," invited Kostrov to the palace through Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov, who was familiar with Kostrov's peculiarities.

Count Shuvalov summoned Ermil Ivanovich, bought him decent clothes, and begged him to appear sober on the appointed day to meet the empress. Kostrov promised, but at the appointed hour, he disappeared. They searched for him but could not find him. Shuvalov went alone and informed Catherine that Kostrov could not come due to a sudden and severe illness. The empress expressed regret and instructed to convey 1000 rubles to Kostrov. Upon receiving the money, Kostrov that same day gave 800 rubles to an officer he accidentally met in a tavern, who had lost state funds.

Contemporaries highly valued the talent of Ermil Ivanovich Kostrov, considering him an original and distinctive poet, one of the first poets of his time. Kostrov's translations of Voltaire, Ossian, and Homer into Russian were significant literary events of that era. The poet Derzhavin regarded Kostrov with sympathy, while Suvorov, to whom Kostrov dedicated several works, had a good relationship with him.

Literary colleagues admired his talent, and he had wealthy and influential patrons. Friends tried to shield him from alcohol, but he always skillfully avoided their guardianship. Pushkin recalled that on festive days, Kostrov was searched for all over the city to compose poetry and was usually found in a tavern or with a deacon, with whom he was closely friends. For some time, he lived with Kheraskov, who did not allow him to get drunk.

Kostrov fell ill and died in complete poverty from intermittent fever in December 1796 in Moscow. Pushkin wrote in his lyceum years in the poem "To a Poet Friend": "Kostrov dies unnoticed in the attic." He was buried at the Lazarevskoye Cemetery.