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,
Horace themes throughout his poetic career, including politics, love, philosophy and ethics, his own social role, as well as poetry itself. His "Epodes" and "Satires" are forms of 'blame poetry' and both have a natural affinity with the moralising and diatribes of Cynicism. This often takes the form of allusions to the work and philosophy of Bion of Borysthenes but it is as much a literary game as a philosophical alignment. By the time he composed his "Epistles", he was a critic of Cynicism along with all impractical and "high-falutin" philosophy in general. The "Satires" also include a strong element of