Juvenal, Roman Satirist (ca. 60 C.E. - ca. 131 C.E.)
Juvenal (Decimus Junius Juvenalis, lived ca. 60 C.E. - ca. 131 C.E.) was Rome's greatest satirical poet. But he also found much at fault with the Rome of his day. The following excerpts from his Satires provide insight into life in the Empire's capital.
Juvenal: The Satires
Fortune can, for her pleasure, fools advance, And toss them on the wheels of Chance. Juvenal Commentary On Roman History and Culture
in Juvenal’s Satires I, III and X
The people that one bestowed commands, consulships, legions, and all else, now concerns itself no more, and longs eagerly for just two things - bread and circuses! Juvenal, Satires
ROMAN SATIRE
Juvenal was a satrical poet born in 65A.D. in Aqunium, which is a town in the southeren part of Italy. His full name was Decimus Junius Juvenalis. When he first wrote in Rome, the Emperor Domitian did not like him and had him exiled. No one is sure where he went, but Egypt is the most likely place. When he came back to Rome, he was very poor at first. Then he became a friend of the emperor Hadrian and he became better known.
Between 98 and 128 he became famous for the series of satires he wrote sixteen of which are extant. He wrote the satire in an epigrammatic style. The satires attacked the upper class of Rome and the politics of Rome.
His writings revealed sympathy for the poor and the rich digusted him. Also in his work he used a lot of irony. He died in 128, but he turned out to be very influential on some of the more modern poets and authors.
Juvenal: On the City of Rome (late 1st, early 2nd Century CE)
D. IUNI IVVENALIS SATVRAE
Juvenal: Satire 1 (English)
