Martial: Epigramme

By Benedikt Simons

The biting, pointed satire of Martial's epigrams becomes evident to students quite early on, as does his aim to expose fundamental weaknesses in human behavior (to spare individuals, to speak of vices). Martial's poems engage students with their wit, while also encouraging a fundamental examination of human (mis)behavior.

In the poems of this edition, Martial establishes a special connection to the buildings and regions of his city, Rome. This creates a journey through Rome that offers incentives and inspiration for visiting the city. The poems are thoroughly commented on, supplemented by reconstructions, floor plans, and illustrations, and completed with parallel texts. This allows for a profound and action-oriented approach to the epigrams and the city of Rome.