Damasus and the Christian Epigram in the West
Dennis Trout
This chapter surveys the emergence, development, and literary characteristics of Latin carmen epigraphicum in late antiquity. It focuses upon fourth- fifth-century Rome Italy, where phenomenon is particularly well represented, suggests that epigraphic poetry should be considered a signature feature period. Although funerary epigrams, whose long history reaches back to early imperial republican Rome, have more consistently attracted scholarly attention, this highlights novel practice installing metrical inscriptions antique churches martyrial shrines. innovative use inscribed it further suggested, rooted striking initiative Constantinian dynasty was adapted by Rome's fourth-century bishops, Damasus (366–84), for purposes episcopal self-representation promotion ecclesial spiritual ends.