A Roman child
prodigy, Quintus Sulpicius Maximus won an imperial poetry contest at the age of 11, and died mysteriously a short time thereafter.
On
September 14, 95 A.D., Emperor Titus Flavius Domitianus, know as
Domitian, called for a third
ludi Capitolini, a Roman competition that included gymnastics, equestrian sports, music, and poetry. Over fifty competitors were present for the
poetry contest, and were charged with composing on this subject:
The words which Jupiter made use of in reproving Apollo for having trusted his chariot to Phaeton.
Eleven-year-old Q. Sulpicius Maximus composed forty-three verses and won the competition. Quintus, whose first language was
Latin, had probably learned Greek by reading
Homer. Composing a full 43 verses in strict
hexameters was amazing in itself, let alone besting fifty-odd mature
poets. Although Roman history names Q. Sulpicius Maximus an "
improvisatori", it is unknown whether he spoke his verses extemporaneously, or whether he and his fifty-one colleagues were given the opportunity to consider the subject. Regardless, the emperor crowned Q. Sulpicius Maximus with the
Capitoline laurels; analogous to being named the champion of the world. Unfortunately,
he did not live to enjoy is his victory, as he died soon after games. The circumstances of his
death remain obscure.
To the Departed Spirits; For Quintus Sulpicius, son of Quintus, of the tribe Maximus, who was born at Rome and lived eleven years, five months and twelve days This boy, at the third Capitoline Games, plainly excited favor in a competition of fifty two Greek poets because of his young age, and he excited admiration by his skill and departed with honor. Verses that he composed extemporaneously are inscribed below lest his parents seem to be exaggerating because of their affection. Quintus Sulpicius Eugrammus and Licinia Ianuaria, his parents, made this for their unfortunate and pious son and for themselves and their descendents.
The above was engraved on
the tomb of Q. Sulpicius Maximus, which was unearthed in 1871, from beneath the ruins of the
Porta Salaria. His parents went to the great expense of having
he and his words preserved in stone in order that the knowledge of his achievement would follow the boy into the
Lower World. The tomb has been moved from it's original location, and resides today in the
Palazzo dei Conservatori, a museum in
Rome.