Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Λατινική ΦιλολογίαLibrary of the School of Philosophy
Author:
Nerk Paris-Ioannis
Supervisors info:
Ανδρέας Ν. Μιχαλόπουλος, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Φιλολογίας, Φιλοσοφική Σχολή ΕΚΠΑ
Σοφία Γ. Παπαϊωάννου, Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Φιλολογίας, Φιλοσοφική Σχολή ΕΚΠΑ
Μυρτώ Γκαράνη, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Φιλολογίας, Φιλοσοφική Σχολή ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Μαρτιάλης ο "nugator": Πρότυπα και Στοιχεία Ερωτικής Ηθικής στο Επίγραμμα της Εποχής των Φλαβίων
Translated title:
Martial the "nugator": Patterns and Elements of Erotic Ethics in the Epigram of Flavian Era
Summary:
The Hellenistic style epigram, short, witty and assiduous verse compositions, appeared in Rome through the Neoteric poets compositions during the 1st century B.C.E. Catullus from Verona is the first well-attested Roman epigrammatist before Martial. Martial from Bilbilis is the first full-time Roman epigrammatist. In his EpigrammatonLibri epigram reaches to its peak. Catullus, influenced by the Hellenistic poetic doctrines, writes short scopticCarmina, called nugae (= garrulity)or versiculi (= small meaningless verses). A century later (1st century C.E.) Martial introduces in poetryfor the first time the term epigram for an independent genre. Other genre’s designations were the terms iocus (= joy), ludus (= play), libelli (=small silly books). All the above terms indicate epigram’s poetic status. In contradiction to the “high” and heroic genres of epic and tragedy, which were fully “accepted” poetically,epigram was socially “inacceptable” as a humble and “low” poetic genre. Epigram’s linguistic and thematic licentia (= liberty of expression) was one of its major characteristics, including lengthy descriptions of Rome’s erotic mores (= habits) during Domitian’s period. Satiric mode in epigram was always a dominant factor, but neither Catullus, nor Martial writes satire. Epigram rarely focuses on the ethical improvement of the Roman society and on the criticism of social defects, as satire does. Epigram’s target was the listeners and/or readers amusement.
Martial never attacks on real individuals. He only attacks on realistically described and made human social types. He attempts his listeners/readers to identify their habits or practices through the realistic social types. He is interested more in the social experience, rather than the individual defects. That’s why he mostly satirizes common social defects and cliché behaviors.
Epigrammaton readership reception was of great importance for Martial, who frequently apologizes for his licentious language and themes. This technique of poetic apology already existed in Catullus corpus, because in many compositions common sexual practices are described realistically. Both poets use a variety of linguistic obscenities, which confirm the well-established social norms about sex, gender and sexual roles. Every attitude that couldn’t conform to the socially accepted norms is criticized and rejected. Roman society focused mostly to the opposed function of individual sexual roles, rather than to the bipolar contrast of sex (male, female). From the one hand was the penetrative or insertive active male subjects and from the other were all the other passive receptive erotic objects succumbing to penetration. The last category includes women, children, slaves without civil rights and male passive sexual partners. Passive homosexuals are criticized harshly, because they acted as non civesRomani, although they have had the inherent virtus of male active individual subjects.
Main subject category:
Language – Literature
Keywords:
epigram, nugae, ludus, iocus, versiculi, libellus, homosexuality, erotic ethics, Callimachus, Catullus, Neoteric poets, Horatius, Martial, Pliny, Quintilian, fellatio, cinaedus, pathicus, cunnilinctus, irrumatio, pedico, percido, puer, catamitus, mentula, depillatus, licentia, obscenity, satire, elegy, language, readership, patron, apologia, metre, Domitian
Number of references:
300
