{"product_id":"the-poems-of-optatian-9781350374379","title":"The Poems of Optatian","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFor the first time, the poems and accompanying letters of Publilius Optatianus Porfyrius (Optatian) are published here with a translation and detailed commentary, along with a full introduction to Optatian's work during this period.\u003c\/b\u003eOptatian was sent into exile by Constantine sometime after the Emperor's ascent to power in Rome in 312 AD. Hoping to receive pardon, Optatian sent a gift of probably twenty design poems to Constantine around the time of the ruler's twentieth anniversary (325\/326 AD).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTo enable the reader to experience the multiple messages of the poems, the Latin text is presented  near the English translation with any related design close by. Some poems, laid out on a grid of up to 35 letters across and down, have an interwoven poem marking key letters in the primary poem, thereby revealing a highlighted image. Some designs include the Chi-Rho or numerals created from V's and X's to mark imperial anniversaries. Other (previously unrecognised) designs seem \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn invaluable resource for understanding the fascinating, complex literary and political culture of the later Roman Empire. -- Erin Sebo, Associate Professor of Medieval Literature and Language, Flinders University, Australia\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eList of Figures Preface  Acknowledgments   Note on Text, Translation and Abbreviations  Introduction  1. Letters between Constantine and Optatian [Porfyrius]  2. The Poems of Optatian to Constantine  3. The Poems of Optatian to Other Recipients    Notes Bibliography  Index\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bloomsbury Publishing PLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53187304653143,"sku":"9781350374379","price":85.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/the-poems-of-optatian-9781350374379","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}