This is an introduction to the ancient genre of epigram, short poems literally written or inscribed 'on' an object or figuratively 'on' a topic. The authors set out what epigram means and why it matters, exploring its roots in inscriptions on stone and its literary flourishing in the Hellenistic world after Alexander. They trace its migration from Greece to Rome, where its most famous exponent was Martial, and consider the continuation of Greek epigram under the Roman empire in the so-called 'Second Sophistic'. The final chapter shows how Greek epigram achieved new importance in the nineteenth century as raw material for stories about the classical past.

Provides an introduction as to what epigram means and why it matters. Short content excellent for undergraduates and researchers alike.

Book Information
ISBN 9780521145701
Author Niall Livingstone
Format Paperback
Page Count 190
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 290g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 157mm * 8mm