Disjecta membra Disjecta membra , also written , is Latin for "scattered fragments" (also scattered limbs, members, or remains) and is used to refer to surviving fragments of ancient poetry, manuscripts, and other literary or cultural objects, including even fragments of ancient pottery. It is derived from , a phrase used by Horace, a Roman poet. Fragments of ancient writing, especially ancient Latin poetry found in other works are commonly referred to as "disjecta membra". The terms "disiecta membra" and "disjecta membra" are paraphrased from the Roman lyric poet Horace (65 BC – 8 BC), who wrote of in his "Satires", 1.4.62,
Alliteration (Latin) composition, but does not perform a structural function in the "carmen" as a whole. The earliest Latin poems, unlike early Germanic and English poetry, do not have obligatory alliteration. Most of the fragments of the early accentual Saturnian poetry listed by Lindsay exhibit no alliteration, although some do, for example the following line, attributed to Naevius (c.270–c.201 BC), which has alliteration of M, P, and T: The epic poet Ennius (c.239–c.169 BC) made very frequent use of alliteration. In the following hexameter, the primary alliteration with T is supported by a secondary medial alliteration of R to reinforce the idea