Sextus Amarcius
Sextus Amarcius was a probably Rhenish Middle Latin poet who lived at the end of the 11th century. He is known for his satires ( sermones ) based on the model of Horace and Prudentius , a moral-theological didactic poem. They consist of four books in 2701 hexameters (with closing prayer) and attack various sins such as avarice, envy, greed, debauchery (both by clergy and worldly). The sermones date from around 1100.
He calls himself Sextus Amarcius Gallus Piosistratus (a pseudonym) in his poem and was a classically educated monk or secular clergyman. The mention of the charity of Heinrich III. in the great famine in 1043/44 and the tragic fate of a Beradon from Speyer at this time in his poem suggests a connection to the area of Speyer and the time of Heinrich III. conclude.
In the sermons there are digressions against the Jews, about ancient mythology, legends, miracle stories, an allegorical-moral interpretation of the twelve precious stones (from the Revelation of John, 21:19) and realistic everyday scenes.
He may have influenced Eupolemius, the pseudonymous author of a Bible poem and contemporary of Amarcius. He is only cited by Hugo von Trimberg (died around 1315) and Dietrich Engelhus (died 1434).
Manuscripts of his satires are in Dresden (Saxon State Library) and Copenhagen. The work is dedicated to a also pseudonymous Candidus Theopystius Alchimus.
literature
- Max Manitius : History of Latin Literature in the Middle Ages . Volume 2, CH Beck, Munich 1976, pp. 569-574
- Karl Manitius : Amarcius , in the German literature of the Middle Ages. Author Lexicon
- Anja Holtmeier: The satirical technique of the Sextus Amarcius (= Litora Classica 5). VML 2011
Work editions
- Ronald E. Pepin: Sextus Amarcius: Satires (edition with Eupolemius , ed. Jan Ziolkowski), Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library 9, Harvard University Press, 2011
- Karl Manitius: Sextus Amarcius Sermones , Monumenta Germaniae Historica 6, Böhlau, Weimar 1969
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Amarcius, Sextus |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Middle Latin poet |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 11th century |
| DATE OF DEATH | 11th century or 12th century |