A Commentary on the Prose Preface and Epigrams 1-20 of Martial Book 12

This PhD thesis provides a commentary for the prefatory epistle and the opening twenty epigrams of Martial Book 12. The texts will be analysed through an interpretative method and focus will be placed upon intra- and intertextual references in order to orientate the work within the broader framework of Ancient literature. Beyond the concentration upon literary allusions, attention will be paid to metrical and philological concerns in order to distinguish Martial’s particular techniques and innovations from conventional or generic usages. Each text will be accompanied with a translation and an introductory essay, which will focus upon the structure, style and content of the text, in order to provide a clear and unambiguous interpretation for each work. A supplementary thematic essay will also be supplied, when it is necessary to pursue particular points that cannot be catered for in the lemmatised entries or the initial essay on the content and structure of each text.