Synopses & Reviews
Despite his enduring popularity, Martial has recently suffered from serious critical neglect. The present work is the first edition of selections from Martial to be published for decades, and the first ever to include a fully representative selection of the oeuvre of the poet, who has often been criticised, unfairly, the authors argue, for obscenity and flattery of the Emperor Domitian. The epigrams included in the selection are organised under various heads, e.g. Martial and poetry, sexual mores, satirical pieces. A very full introduction deals with such topics as the prejudices and predilections of his audience which conditioned Martial's choice of subject matter, Martial's language, the structure and style of the epigrams, the epigrammatic tradition and Martial's creative engagement with it. The detailed commentary is suitable for use with undergraduates and is distinguished by its focus on social history as well as literary interpretation.
Review
"...an important contribution to the interpretation of Martial's works...This anthology will certainly be of great help for our understanding of the epigrams and inspire further research." BMCR
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 357-369) and index.
Synopsis
Ninety poems by Martial, the first-century a.d. epigrammatist, are presented, with commentary, in this edition. Selected on the basis of their thematic importance, these concise poems provide an unique opportunity to interpret a significantly neglected author. The book considers the sociocultural and historical matrix from which the epigrams sprang and the Roman love of personal invective which sustains and enlivens a major portion of Martial's work.
Synopsis
A representative selection of the poems of the first-century AD epigrammatist Martial is presented in this edition, together with a very full introduction and commentary suitable for use with students. There is a strong focus on social history as well as extensive discussion of questions of literary interpretation.
Synopsis
Representative selection of Martial's poems with full introduction and commentary suitable for use with students.
Synopsis
Some ninety poems of the first-century AD epigrammatist, Martial, are presented, with commentary, in this edition. They have been selected on the basis of their thematic importance but also with an eye to the opportunities which they provide for original interpretation of an author who until recently has suffered significant critical neglect. A particular focus of the book is consideration of the sociocultural and historical matrix from which the epigrams sprang and the Roman love of personal invective which sustains and enlivens a large part of Martial's corpus.
About the Author
Lindsay Watson is Senior Lecturer in Classics at the University of Sydney and the author of Arae: The Curse Poetry of Antiquity (1991).Patricia Watson is Senior Lecturer in Classics at the University of Sydney and author of Ancient Stepmothers: Myth, Misogyny and Reality (1995).
Table of Contents
Preface; Abbreviations; Introduction; Select epigrams; 1. Martial and poetry; 2. Poet and patron; 3. Martial and the city of Rome; 4. Women; 5. Sexual mores; 6. Satirical epigrams; 7. Epideictic epigrams; 8. Funerary epigrams; Commentary; Bibliography; Indexes.