Decima IAHS Avsonij (Ausonius, Decimus Magnus)

Avsonij, Decima Magnus; Ausonius, Decimus Magnus, ca. 310-after 393 years. n. e., Roman poet. The son of a physician, was born in Burdigale (Bordeaux), where he received a thorough rhetorical education (while studying in Toulouse, France), and then for 30 years was a teacher of grammar at first, then the rhetoric. Ok. 365 was at the imperial court in Trevira tutor the heir to the throne of Gratian. In the imperial suite A. participated in the campaign against allemanov (368-369 gg.) and, taking a number of posts at the lower Valentinian, when Graziani was promoted to high (prefect of Gaul, 378; consul, 379). After the sudden death of Gratian (383) returned to their possession near Burdigala, where the atmosphere of universal respect for, as a famous poet, gave himself up to his death, literary studies. Was in friendly relations with many famous contemporaries, such as his pupil Paulino from Nola, speaker Simmahom. - A poetic heritage. consists mainly of various kinds of small poems on the case, written in Latin, Greek, and sometimes even a mixed Latin-Greek language, with different metrics.

Some are translations of Greek originals, or processing, and even consist of quotations or obviously altered verses of the Latin classical poets. In terms of themes, they are all grouped in a few cycles or collections. A. written mainly for friends who sent along with a dedication to individual works or small collections. Later, probably shortly after his consulate, A. gathered them together and he issued. The second edition is already implemented by someone else for a short time after the death of the poet. A chronology of creativity. not always clear. Few works certainly can be attributed to the period of teaching in Burdigale. Then A. already begun to write epigrams. worked all my life. Cycle Epigrams on different topics (Epigrammata de diversis rebus) covers approximately 100 small works, often translated from Greek. Sometimes the poet plays with the same subject several times to emphasize his own masterly form. In Burdigale was created, perhaps, also preserved a fragmented series of works diary or lessons during the day, in which A. described their daily lessons

. From teaching in Burdigale and vospitatelskoy in Trevira linked, . probably, . such works, . Life as Caesars (Caesares), . verse biography Caesars, . reproduced from the works of Suetonius, . Liber eclogarum (Book of the small works), . collection of works, . especially in the calendar theme, . Calendar and cycle books (Libri de fastis), . represents a poetic catalog of contemporary poets knowledge,
. They serve mnemotehnicheskih poems to facilitate memorization of specific dates and facts. Already at the imperial court was established Wedding tsenton (Cento nuptialis; cm. Cento), in which A. described with quotations from Virgil's Wedding. In the mystery figures 3 (Griphus ternarii numeri) A. trying to find the number 3 in all areas of life. The charm and freshness of a true sense there are only a few poems from the cycle, . on allemanskoy captive Bussilii, . a mournful song in his father's death (Epicedion in patrem), . where the deceased father himself tells about his life, . as well as the product of marital property (De herediolo),
.

In the poem suffering Cupid (Cupido cruciatus), written under the influence of once-seen pictures, A. presented heroines who are trying to punish caught Cupid, in revenge for the deferred due to his fault suffering. After consulates A. began to write a cycle of works entitled Parentalii (Parentalia; memories of deceased relatives), which presents a gallery of his dead ancestors, relatives and loved ones. Since 385, the most likely was created cycle Recollections of professors from Burdigala (Commemoratio professorum Burdigalensium), dedicated to 24 friends and colleagues. These portraits are of value for studying the history of Gaul. To this period of his work belongs to the part of epigrams on the Trojan heroes, do not differ originality and poetry, entitled pitafii Trojan heroes (Epitaphia heroum qui bello Troico interfuerunt). The latest cycle of works written after the departure of A. from public life, became a list of famous cities (Ordo urbium nobilium), a word of praise and characterization of 20 different cities of the Empire.

In the poem, the bulk of this series (XX) A. glorifies native Burdigal, while the great Rome he devoted only one verse. In 389-390 years. he created a cycle of 12 works titled Formal games (Technopaegnion); content does not play a big role here, A. shows his own poetic craft (for example, in the composition III one and the same monosyllable one verse ends and another begins). Similarly, exercise is a formal prayer consul Avsonij in rofaliyskih verse, where in each of the following hexameters word one syllable longer than the previous: the first word - a monosyllabic, the latter - pentasyllable. The most significant work of Alexander, brought him fame, is set up in 370-371 years. epic poem of 483 hexameter entitled Mozella (Mosella). This description of travel on the river. Using the form of praise songs in honor of the river, A. able to create a eulogy to the imperial residence of Trevira, the most important center of culture and art.

Figuratively, presented a. Mozella River, its tributaries, fish fishing, river gods and goddesses, the wharf with ships, charming cottages and the beautiful vineyards, stretching along the coast, as well as the people inhabiting this area. We are particularly excited in this poem a subtle sense of beauty of nature. A. was also a prose writer, . writing on artificial, . bombastic Latin already mentioned introduction to the various poetic cycles and letters (some of them in poetic form) to different persons, . primarily to a Friend, . such as Pauline, . Simma, . who admired him and compared him with Virgil,
. Preserved as a speech a. 379, the acceptance speech to the Emperor Graziani for the provision of consular. A. was a good craftsman, even a virtuoso, but in a very small degree poet. In poetry he was trying to shine above all, his agility, hence his original technique of quotations and processing works predecessors (tsentony), mixing Greek and Latin (from A. to look for the origins of macaronic poetry, although he was not the first of Latin poets, it tried), the formal game.

In the work of a. it would be vain to seek any deep thought, he was not interested in this or politics or philosophy or theology. His Christianity was very superficial. With his poetic dilettantism and comprehensive rhetorical education A. is a typical representative of the period of decline of Roman literature. Most of his work has little literary value, but some of them are a valuable historical source, especially for the study of cultural history of the empire.