"Dictavit Auditor": Martial's identity and the construction of an authorial persona dictated by the audience

Abstract

This article argues that Martial presents in his epigrams carefully tailored representations of himself regarding his Spanish origins and his appreciation for both Spain and Rome, with varying accounts that stem from the need to address specific audiences. The different poet-personae of the poems can be explained by the author's efforts to target his audience for financial gain and literary prestige.