Аннотация

La sátira es según Quintiliano una creación enteramente romana, y Juvenal, con Horacio, su mejor exponente. Décimo Junio Juvenal, a pesar de ser uno de los mayores poetas satíricos romanos, es un desconocido para nosotros: apenas sabemos de seguro que nació en Aquino (Lacio) en época de Nerón (54-68 d.C.) y que murió durante el imperio de Adriano (117-138); probablemente participó en el ejército y en la vida política, residió en Roma en tiempo del emperador Domiciano y tal vez sufriera exilio. Sus Sátiras, dieciséis repartidas en cinco libros, son el modelo universal del género, que Juvenal deseó situar a la altura de las poesías épica y trágica y de la oratoria. Se refieren a la vida en la Roma contemporánea al autor, y tratan con una acidez despiadada y vitriólica a una variopinta galería de personajes: son víctimas de sus pullas los moralistas hipócritas, el estilo de vida en la urbe –en la sátira 3, que muchos consideran la mejor–, el gobierno de Domiciano, las mujeres –en la misógina sátira 6–, los literatos y los maestros, los que creen en la nobleza del linaje y los que sucumben a los vicios sexuales… Pocos son, en suma, los que se salvan de la quema. De Juvenal se ha apreciado, amén de la singular fuerza expresiva, la sinceridad de su cólera y un inagotable ingenio que ha legado al acervo literario expresiones tan universales como panem et circenses, rara avis in terris y mens sana in corpore sano. Este volumen completa la imagen de la sátira romana con Persio (34-62 d.C.), quien en su breve vida compuso seis sátiras a la manera de Lucilio y Horacio, que, lejos de la cólera de Juvenal, transmiten una rigurosa moralidad estoica.

Аннотация

Decimus Junius Juvenalis, known as Juvenal, is one of the greatest satirists and moralists in history. His works, of which 16 are preserved, are scathing and unapologetic in their presentment of Rome and its citizens; Juvenal is also revered as a social historian for his vivid depictions of Latin life. He wrote his satires between 100 and 127 AD, and although his volumes of poetry were lost for several centuries, his rediscovered works introduced a tradition of satire that has been popular for nearly two thousand years. Juvenal has often been misunderstood, as some critics have denounced him for having disliked everything in his life. However, the poet intended for his works to instruct as much as chastise. In these 16 works, ranging in size from just over 60 lines to 661 lines, Juvenal deals with such subjects as the wealthy, women, soldiers, the highborn, vanity, greed, extravagance, among others.

Аннотация

Decimus Junius Juvenalis, known as Juvenal, is one of the greatest satirists and moralists in history. His works, of which sixteen are preserved, are scathing and unapologetic in their presentment of Rome and its citizens. Juvenal is also revered as a social historian for his vivid depictions of Latin life. He wrote his satires between 100 and 127 AD, and although his volumes of poetry were lost for several centuries, his rediscovered works introduced a tradition of satire that has been popular for nearly two thousand years. Juvenal has often been misunderstood, as some critics have denounced him for having disliked everything in his life. However, the poet intended for his works to instruct as much as chastise. In these sixteen works, ranging in size from just over 60 lines to 661 lines, Juvenal deals with such subjects as the wealthy, women, soldiers, the highborn, vanity, greed, extravagance, among others.