Literature: Experiencing Roman City Life

Poetry and Oratory

Roman city life was heavily imbued with the appreciation of literature, especially poetry and oratory.
Eminent Romans often owned private libraries, where they would invite guests for literary gatherings known as recitatio.
Poets like Virgil, Horace, and Ovid were integral parts of Roman literary culture. Virgil’s ‘Aeneid’ is especially famed, being written under the regime of Emperor Augustus.
Oratory was both a social tool and a political weapon, with public figures using eloquent speech to persuade and influence the populace.

Roman literature also featured genres that poked fun at or criticised aspects of society - namely satire and comedy.
Satire was a uniquely Roman genre. Satirists like Juvenal and Horace used humorous and often biting commentary to critique Roman culture.
The plays of Plautus and Terence were full of comic misunderstandings and characters that reflected various aspects of life in Roman cities - these were often performed in theatres.

Graffiti was a commonplace method of communication in Roman cities - serving as a way for the common people to express their views.
This ranged from simple declarations of love to political statements, providing valuable insights into everyday Roman urban life.
The preserved city of Pompeii is especially renowned for its graffiti, which provides a wealth of information about the city’s inhabitants.

Epigrams, short and witty poems, were immensely popular in Roman society.
Poets like Martial were known for their epigrams, bringing to life the bustling streets, taverns, baths, and crowds of Rome in their poetry.
Epigrams often focused on everyday elements of Roman city life, featuring themes of love, friendship, rivalry, urban squalor, and social commentary.

Beyond poetry and comedy, Romans also engaged in prose literature with stories about fantasy, adventure, and romance.
Apuleius’ ‘The Golden Ass’ is the only novel from the Roman world to have survived in its entirety.
Such literature reflects the societal norms, living conditions, and lifestyles of the average Roman citizen living in the city, giving a tangible perspective of Roman city life.