The Poems of Prudentius

by Prudentius

Publisher:

Catholic University of America

, 1962

Overview

Prudentius, often acclaimed as the greatest Latin Christian poet, was born probably in Calahorra, Spain, the son of highly cultured Roman citizens and fervent Christians. His death occurred after 405. The metric structure of his poems clearly shows the great influence of Horace although echoes of other Latin poets are likewise detected.

The Book of Hymns for Every Day (Liber Cathemerinon) is a collection of hymns for use at times of prayer that were once customary in the early Church: at cock-crow, morning hymn, hymns before and after repast, hymn at time of lamp lighting, hymn before sleep. Hymns to be used for special feasts and occasions conclude the work.

The Book of the Martyrs’ Crowns (Liber Peristephanon) is a work that comprises fourteen hymns in honor of various martyrs. Six hymns honor the Spanish martyrs: Emeterius, Chelidonius, Eulalia, the Eighteen Martyrs of Saragossa, Vincent, Fructuosus and companions. Five hymns sing the praises of Roman martyrs: Lawrence, Cassian, Hippolytus, Peter and Paul, Agnes. Three more hymns honoring the memory of Quirinus, Romanus and Cyprian conclude this work. The accounts of the martyrdom of Sts. Emetrius, Chelidonius, Lawrence, Eulalia, Cassian, Romanus, Hippolytus, the Eighteen Martyrs of Saragossa are the earliest extant.

Key Features

• Christian poetry influenced by classical forms
• Functional hymns for everyday life
• One of 127 published volumes in a well-respected series on the Church Fathers

Product Details

• Title: The Poems of Prudentius
• Author: Prudentius
• Series: The Fathers of the Church
• Volume: 1
• Publisher: Catholic University of America
• Print Publication Date: 1962
• Logos Release Date: 2014
• Pages: 311
• Era: era:nicene
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Hymns, Latin › Translations into English; Religion › Christianity--Orthodox; Poetry › Subjects and themes--Inspirational and religious
• Resource ID: LLS:POEMSVOLUME1
• Resource Type: text.monograph.poetry
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T20:38:23Z

About Prudentius

Aurelius Prudentius Clemens was born in 348 in the Roman province of Tarraconensis. He lived mostly in northeastern Spain, but visited Rome between 400 and 405. He became a barrister and later an administrator. Prudentius was a strong Christian who admired the old pagan literature and art, especially the great Latin poets whose forms he used. He viewed Roman achievements in history as preparation for the coming of Christ and the triumph of a spiritual empire.