Apophoreta

work by Martial

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June 18, 2026

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Apophoreta were a collection of couplets written by the Roman poet Martial around 84 or 85 AD. These poems were intended to describe gifts given to guests during the Saturnalia festival. Martial is renowned for perfecting the Latin epigram, offering a vivid portrayal of Roman society during the early empire, highlighting human foibles with wit and linguistic skill. His work provides valuable insights into the daily life and social customs of ancient Rome.12

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Martial
Life and career
…with Greek titles Xenia and Apophoreta; these consist almost entirely of couplets describing presents given to guests at the December festival of the Saturnalia. In the next 15 or 16 years, however, appeared the 12 books of epigrams on which his renown deservedly rests. In ad 86 Books I and…
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…with Greek titles Xenia and Apophoreta; these consist almost entirely of couplets describing presents given to guests at the December festival of the Saturnalia. In the next 15 or 16 years, however, appeared the 12 books of epigrams on which his renown deservedly rests. In ad 86 Books I and…
Read More