Mark Valeri Martial (Marcus Valerius Martialis)

(ca. 40 - OK. 104 BC)
Native Spanish city Bilbilis. Received a good education in the province, Martial in 64 BC. moved to Rome, where he made the acquaintance with Seneca and Lukanov. The death of the two patrons who participated in the conspiracy of Piso against Nero (65 AD), Martial meant to wreck all hopes, but in the reign of Titus and Domitian, his situation has improved. During this period, Marcial received privileges as the father of three children, although, apparently, never been married and had children. Emperors encouraged his post as military tribune and the production of riders. Martial resided at the Quirinal and the owner of a small country estate given to him. Among his friends were Quintilian, Juvenal and Pliny the Younger. Despite the lure of city life, in 98 BC. Martial returned to his native Bilbilis. Died in Martial Bilbilise ca. 104 BC.
Owned Martsialu poem (of 1561) established gradually. In 80 BC. wrote 36 poems on the occasion of the opening of the Colosseum by the Emperor Titus (now they are prefaced by the collection of epigrams as the Book of spectacles). In the 84-85 set Gifts and goodies, 350 two-line 'inscriptions' accompanying the presented at the festival Saturnalia gifts (in the book they are given as XIII and XIV of the book). Starting with 86 Marcial annually published a book (of 12 books, numbering 1,175 poems) of the epigrams, and that made him famous. Their size varies from 1 to 51 lines are written, they often elegiac distihom, as well as various types of iambic, hexameter and odinnadtsatislozhnikom. Under the pen Martial epigram, and became what now understand we are under it - a short, witty and ironic poem, usually with an unexpected ending. Martial shrewdly discerning tricks, weaknesses and shortcomings of people, both men and women going through life in different ways. It should be noted, however, that a lot of Martial viciously obscene epigrams, and his slaver Domitian sometimes nauseating.