Martial’s epigram on Canace

Sarcophagus of a Roman girl
Sarcophagus of a Roman girl – from classicalanthology.theclassicslibrary.com

The Latin Poet Martial (b. 38–41 AD, d. 102–104 AD), known for his ferocious satires in his Epigrams, also showed often in his writing a humane and compassionate personality, in particular towards the most powerless people: children and slaves. In particular Epigram 11.91 mourns a 7-year-old girl who died after having been disfigured by a horrible disease. The saddest thing is not death, but how it came. CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…