Being Roman with Mary Beard 3. Rome's Got Talent
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Nov 8, 2023 Explore the story of an 11-year-old poet in Imperial Rome, his journey from slave to scholar, and his parents' desperate attempts at social mobility. Discover the significance of poetry and culture in ancient Rome and the power of free speech through the art of poetry.
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Child Poet Performs Before The Emperor
- An 11-year-old boy, Quintus Sulpicius Maximus, performed original poetry at the Capitoline Games before 7,000 people and the emperor in AD 94.
- His parents proudly recorded his CV and poem on a tombstone after he died soon afterward.
Imperial Games Blend Sport And Culture
- Imperial literary festivals mixed sport and culture and became central prestige events in Rome under emperors like Domitian.
- Kathleen Coleman dates the child's performance to the third Capitoline games in 94 AD using the inscription's details.
Tombstone As Public CV
- The tombstone's Latin CV emphasizes his competition among 52 Greek poets and the judges' sympathy for his age.
- The family prioritized publicizing his literary achievement above all else on the monument.