Martial, the father of the epigram, was one of the brilliant provincial poets who made their literary mark on first-century Rome. His <b>Epigrams</b> can be affectionate or cruel, elegiac or playful; they target every element of Roman society, from slaves to schoolmasters to, above all, the aristocratic elite. With wit and wisdom, Martial evokes not &#8220;the grandeur that was Rome,&#8221; but rather the timeless themes of urban life and society.