The Roman
Poet and Satirist Aulus Persius Flaccus
Aulus
Persius Flaccus, often simply known as Persius, was a Roman poet and
satirist of Etruscan origin, born in Volterra (Volaterrae) on
December 4, 34 AD, and died on November 24, 62 AD. He was part of the
equestrian class, which was below the senatorial class but above
commoners, and he was connected by blood and marriage to individuals
of high social standing. Persius was known for his Stoic philosophy
and his sharp criticism of the stylistic excesses of his contemporary
poets.
Francesco
Stelluti: Persius
Education
and Influences: Persius received his early education in Volterra and
then moved to Rome at the age of twelve to study grammar and
rhetoric. He was influenced by the Stoic philosopher Lucius Annaeus
Cornutus, with whom he developed a close relationship. His style and
themes were also shaped by earlier Roman satirists like Lucilius and
Horace, although he took a more concentrated and morally focused
approach to satire.
Works and
Style: Persius wrote six satires, which are concise and dense with
philosophical content, focusing on Stoic ethics, the critique of
contemporary Roman society, and the need for moral reform. His works
are characterized by a difficult, often obscure style, using complex
language and unexpected metaphors, which has both puzzled and
intrigued readers over centuries. These satires were published
posthumously by his mentor Cornutus and became highly influential,
particularly during the Middle Ages.
Personal
Life: Persius was described as having a gentle disposition, modest,
and personally beautiful, living a life of devotion to his family. He
died young at the age of 28 from a stomach ailment, leaving behind
works that, although few in number, had a significant impact on the
genre of satire.
Legacy:
His influence can be seen in the works of later satirists like
Juvenal. Persius's satires are noted for their moral earnestness and
the depth of Stoic thought, contrasting with the often more
light-hearted or politically focused satires of his predecessors. His
works continue to be studied for their philosophical insights and
literary style.
The
Satires of Horace and Persius (Penguin Classics)
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book UK at https://amzn.to/3T55xHR
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The
Satires of Horace (65-8 BC), written in the troubled decade ending
with the establishment of Augustus' regime, provide an amusing
treatment of men's perennial enslavement to money, power, glory and
sex. Epistles I, addressed to the poet's friends, deals with the
problem of achieving contentment amid the complexities of urban life,
while Epistles II and the Ars Poetica discuss Latin poetry - its
history and social functions, and the craft required for its success.
Both works have had a powerful influence on later Western literature,
inspiring poets from Ben Jonson and Alexander Pope to W. H. Auden and
Robert Frost. The Satires of Persius (AD 34-62) are highly
idiosyncratic, containing a courageous attack on the poetry and
morals of his wealthy contemporaries - even the ruling emperor, Nero.
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