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Zusatztext Through all the multifarious foods, wines and objects (or indeed slaves), [Leary] offers a comprehensive guide ... The commentaries and the rich introductions are really helpful for all readers who want to approach Martial as literature or for details of the Saturnalia or patronage in general. Informationen zum Autor T.J. Leary is Head of Classics at Hampton School and the author of Acts of the Apostles: Passages for Translation, also published by Bloomsbury. Vorwort Combines literary and textual comment on this formerly neglected book of epigrams, with close attention to the social and cultural context. Zusammenfassung Although both innovative and engaging, Book XIII of Martial's epigrams, the Xenia , has generally been neglected. As its name suggests, it is concerned with presents, in particular those given at the Saturnalia by hosts to their dinner guests. Like the Apophoreta , which Martial published next, it comprises independent poetic couplets cast as descriptive gift-tags. Far from being mere verse catalogues, however, these books are highly sophisticated literary compositions. Whereas the Apophoreta encompass many different items, the Xenia are devoted to food and drink, and are carefully ordered to reflect the courses of the cena at which they might have been distributed. This edition contains commentary devoted exclusively to the Xenia . Combining literary and textual comment with close attention to the social and cultural context, it will be valuable not only to specialists in Latin literature but also to anyone interested in the food and festivals of Ancient Rome. Inhaltsverzeichnis Preface and acknowledgementsBibliographyIntroductioni. The title of book 13ii. The Roman Saturnaliaiii. The order of epigrams in the Xeniaiv. The date of the Xeniav. Martial’s poetic purposevi. Metervii. The textLatin TextCommentaryIndex
