Luxorius

Luxorius

Luxorius is an Ancient Roman poet and writer of epigrams who lived in Carthage, Africa during the last years of the Vandal occupation in the 6th century, under the reign of the Vandal Kings Thrasamund, Hilderic, and Gelimer (AD 496-534). He greatly admired the notable Roman author Martial, whom he used as a model when composing his works [Rosenblum, 46] . His writings served as a bridge between the end of the Classical Period and the beginning of Medieval Latinand are compiled in a book called "A Latin Poet Among the Vandals" translated by Morris Rosenblum.

Life

Little is known about the life of "Luxorius". As with many poets and thinkers of his day, the only information available has been deduced from the analysis of primary texts, namely his epigrams in"A Latin Poet Among the Vandals". While his birth and death dates are unknown, it is clear that Luxorius was alive and writing during the last years of the Vandal occupation of Carthage, North Africa.

Religion

Luxorius included writings about Pagan dieties, however, it is unclear to scholars whether he really aligned himself with these beleifs. Rosenblum beleives that he may have had valid reasoning for aligning himself more with the Pagans than the Christians at the time; "The Vandals might have been more unlikely to persecute pagans than Catholics". [Rosenblum, 47]

In "A Latin Poet Among the Vandals", Rosenblum precludes the translated epigrams with a somewhat detailed account of Luxorius' life and time in which he lived. Rosenblum indicates that Luxorius was held in esteem by his contemporaries. In fact, in a line from one of his poems, Luxorius seems to refer to himself as "clari viri" [Rosenblum, 39] , a Latin phrase denoting a title of honor under the late Emperors of Rome. Rosenblum specifies, however, that it is most likely that Luxorius did not hold a public office; the title was more honorary than deserved.

Works

Composed in Latin, Luxorius' ninety-one surviving poems are the largest single element included in the "Latin Anthology", presumably complied during his time. His "A Latin Poet Among the Vandals" has been translated into English by a few editors, most notably Morris Rosenblum in his 1961 edition. Luxorius' epigrams range from 3 line poems to longer poems, extending for pages. The subject(s) of the epigrams are equally a varied; ranging from titles such as "To a Noisy and Raging Dwarf" and "To a Fat and Unlucky Falconer" to the more serious "About a Stone Coffin in Which Foul Deeds Have Been Sculptured". His works, modeled after his mentor Martial, tell the reader about himself as well as the time in which he was alive.

While his chief task was to accurately translate the writings of Luxorius, Rosenblum also took it upon himself to include a lengthy and detailed introduction on the Vandals and Carthage, the Latin Anthology and the life of Luxorius. Following the translations, Rosenblum included 84 pages of commentary, 5 appendices, a bibliography and 16 pages of general indexes.

Criticisms

While information on the life and times of Luxorius may be scarce, articles and reviews on his "A Latin Poet Among the Vandals" are certainly more abundant. While the focus of many of these reviews is on the actual translation and additions by Rosenblum, there are several notes about Luxorius' actual writings.

In his review of "A Latin Poet Among the Vandals", Richard Bruere writes, "...Luxorius' epigrams, although ingenious in their antitheses and on occasion almost neat, are chiefly remarkable examples of the wet squib, the joke that does not quite come off" [Bruere, 176]

On a similar note, in his review of these works, Robert Palmer writes, "I ask whether the epigrams of Luxorius might not ave better remained in the obscurity of the "Anthologia Latina" whence they now emerge with introduction, translation, commentary and indexes" [Palmer, 296]

Notes

References

Translations and Editions

* Rosenblum, M. "Luxorius: A Latin Poet Among the Vandals." New York: Columbia University Press, 1961

Secondary Sources

*1911
* Barnwell, P.S. "Emperors, Prefects, and Kings: The Roman West 393-565." United States: University of Carolina Press, 1992
* Garson, R. W. "Observations on the epigrams of Luxorius." "Museum Africum" 6 (1977/78) 9-14.
* Palmer, Robert E.A. "Reviewed work(s): Luxorius: A Latin Poet among the Vandals. Together with a Text of the Poems and an English Translation by Morris Rosenblum". "The Classical World", Vol. 55, No. 9 (Jun., 1962), p. 296
* Bruere, Richard T. "Reviewed work(s): Luxorius: A Latin Poet among the Vandals by Morris Rosenblum". "Classical Philology", Vol. 57, No. 3 (Jul., 1962), pp. 176-181
* Ohl, Raymond T. "Some Remarks on the "Latin Anthology." "The Classical Weekly", Vol. 42, No. 10 (Feb. 21, 1949), pp. 147-153
* Browning, Robert. "Reviewed Work(s): Luxorius by Morris Rosenblum." "The Classical Review: New Series", Vol. 13, No. 2 (June,1963), pp. 170-172.
* Dossey, Leslie. "The Last Days of Vandal Africa: An Arian Commentary on Job and its' Historical Context." "Journal of Theological Studies: NS", Vol. 54, Pt. 1 (April, 2003), pp. 60-138.
* Platt, Colin. "Shorter Notices". "Enlgish Historical Review", CXI: 985. 1994