Summum nec metuas diem nec optes (X.47, 13): representaciones del suicidio en Roma en los epigramas de Marcial

Abstract

It is often said that Martial’s epigrams are a poetic image of reality and therefore let readers know details of daily life in Rome. Within Martial’s total poetic output production nine epigrams are devoted to the practice of suicide: I.8, I.13, I.42, I.78, II.80, III.22, VI.32, X.47 and XI.56. Here I discuss how suicide was perceived and described by Martial, whose epigrams earned considerable distribution across the social divide of ancient Rome.