Persius

Abstract

Persius' writing is some of the most bizarre and inscrutable in the classical canon. Condensed and idiosyncratic syntax, unexpected or discombobulated imagery and rapid shifts in topic make for difficult reading. This chapter provides inroads into such notoriously complex poetry by considering the relationship of Persius' satires to their generic predecessors and analyzing the means by which the poet crafts a unique authorial persona in dialogue with this tradition. After a closer look at an ancient biography of the poet and at each of the seven extant satires, the chapter also discusses Persius' Stoicism and the poet's relationships with his literary and political milieus. The challenge these satires pose to the study of Neronian literature and culture lies not only in the idiosyncratic style with which the poet conveys his poetic, moral, and philosophical ideas, but also in Persius' often seamless integration of allusions to the literary past.

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