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Latin Love Poetry
Owes origins to Greek Callimachus
(fl. 280-45 BC), who wrote on various
topics incl. homosexual love
Callimachus inspired Late
Republican love poets incl.
Catullus (c. 85- c. 54 BC)
Gaius Valerius Catullus
From Verona. Did not involve self in public
life, except:
On staff of Gaius Memmius, governor of
Bithynia, in 57 BC
Wrote some poems critical of various
figures incl. Caesar
Gaius Valerius Catullus
Stormy love affair with “Lesbia” (prob.
Clodia), named in honour of Sappho
of Lesbos
Novi Poetae (New Poets)
Sextus Propertius
(c. 54-48 BC-before 2 BC)
Sextus Propertius
c. 54-48 BC Born into equestrian family in
Assisi
Part of family estates confiscated by Octavian in wake
of civil war to settle veterans
Propertius pursued education in Rome. Became
professional poet. Fell in love with “Cynthia.”
Affair lasted for about five years, then split up,
and Cynthia died a few years later
Sextus Propertius
c. 28 BC First book of poems published. As
result, Propertius gained patronage of
Maecenas
c. 26 BC Second book of poems published
23 BC Third book of poems published
16 BC (or later) Fourth book of poems published
2 BC Propertius definitely dead
“Cynthia” = Hostia or Roscia
Sulpicia
Little known about her. Was niece of senator
and literary patron Messalla. Messalla was
also her legal guardian
Wrote six poems, which constitute almost all
Latin poetry by Roman women that we have!
Poems concern Sulpicia’s love for “Cerinthus,”
possible Cornutus, an associate of Messalla