Classical Studies · Boston College
Across the span of around 1,500 short poems the epigrammatist Martial creates a rich and believable reflection of Imperial Rome at the end of the first century CE. This course explores the complexities of Martial's universe. How does this series of epigrams add up to create something so monumental? What can these poems tell us about actual life in the historical city? What techniques make us feel so present in a text's landscape and how does one build a viable city in words?
