Marcus Valerius Martialis (Martial) (c.39 - c.103 AD)
Originally from Bilbilis Spain, this man of Celtiberian stock spent much of his years in Rome as a man of letters and experienced all levels of Roman society, balancing on the edge of poverty and relying on the rich for patronage.
This is seen in Martial's fifteen books Epigrams, a collections of thumbnail sketches of various men, women and customs, providing a very valuable resource for details of common life in Rome during the Flavian period.
For these works, Martial is said to be the father of the modern epigram. He also wrote On the Spectacles to celebrate the Colosseum.
"Conceal a flaw, and the world will imagine the worst."
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During the Flavian period, Martial, earned the "ius trium liberorum" which gave him privileges, financial advantages, and the ability to start a political career.
