Everybody’s Got a Type
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Name: Martial Date: c. 40 – 100 CE Region: Bilbilis, Hispania [modern Spain] Citation: Epigrams
12.75.1-2, 4-8 |
Polytimus chases after girls,
Hypnus only hesitantly admits he's into guys.
Dindymus is gay, but doesn't want to be.
Amphion could have been born a girl.
But, Avitus, I'd rather date one of these guys,
And deal with all their drama, all their
over-the-top complaints,
Than marry a millionaire's snobby daughter.
Latin Text:
Festinat Polytimus ad puellas,
Invitus puerum fatetur Hypnus,...
Mollis Dindymus est, sed esse non vult;
Amphion potuit puella nasci.
Horum delicias superbiamque
et fastus querulos, Avite, malo
quam dotis mihi quinquies ducena.
Martial [Marcus Valerius Martialis; 38 BCE – 102 CE, modern
Spain] Originally from Bilbilis, Hispania, the poet Martial moved to Rome in
the 60s CE to advance his career. His two extant works include de
Spectaculis, a collection of poems written to commemorate the opening of
the Colosseum, and a fifteen volume collection of epigrams. These poems provide
valuable insight into the private lives of Romans from all of the city’s social
classes.
