Damas (Damasus)

Pope Damasus, Damasus, Pope (366-384 gg.) Latin epigrammatik. D., was probably originally Spaniard. As the pope had a great service to the Church. During his reign, held the first Council of Constantinople (381) and a Roman synod (382 g.). In 382 g. instructed his secretary and adviser Jerome audit Latin translation of the Bible. D. Known primarily as a poet, creator of 62 or 59 (77, together with fragments) inscriptions placed on the graves of Roman martyrs at the time made under his orders restoration work in the catacombs. Some epigrams known from tomb inscriptions, others - from recordings made by pilgrims. The literary value of epigrams D. written hexameters, rarely - distihami not free from prosodic and metrical variation is small. They significantly influence Virgil. D. Often mentioned in the epigrams himself, his mother or sister, Irina. He wrote epigrams and 2 (David and the Apostle Paul) are not intended to be placed in the tomb. Epigrams. are of great importance for the study of the cult of martyrs and as samples of a new literary genre - Christian poetry of tombstones and inscriptions praising the martyrs - who later developed Prudentius. D. was also the author of theological works, which lost. Preserved legal documents, and 9 letters.