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3/27/12 Why Read Catullus in Roman History? Cultural evolu?on: from Cincinnatus to this?? Catullus 57 • To get you to want to take Lan “How well those two bad fairies fit together, st • Voice of a young man from 1 century BC who this queenly couple, Caesar and Mamurra! wasn’t a famous general or poli?cian --No wonder, for they’re like as two stains • Example of the evolu?on of Roman culture (one is from the city, from Formiae the other) – from the rus?c Roman ideal to the fashionable Greek stains sunk in too deeply to be go[en rid of: trends (i.e. poetry is now a proper object of intellectual energy for a Roman gentleman) a pair of twins with all the same diseases, – Emergence of individualism, esp. in poli?cal crisis at they lie entangled on one couch to scribble, end of the Republic adulterers both, equally voracious, • See historical context shaping literature rival partners in ravishing li[le girls: • Window into Roman view of manliness and how well these two bad fairies fit together!” sexuality TIMELINE FOR GAIUS VALERIUS CATULLUS Catullus the Revolu?onary • 88 BC – Sulla wins civil war against Marius and Cinna • Catullus “un-Roman” simply for devo?ng self to • 82 BC – Catullus born in Verona (Romanized Gaul) to poetry a rich provincial family with ?es to important families at • his poetry is not naonal epic celebrang Rome! Rome, including Julius Caesar. – Instead, it’s about Catullus’ personal experiences • 71 BC – Spartacus’ slave revolt is crushed with love, sex, social circles, and wri?ng poetry. • 63 BC – Calinarian Conspiracy • Neoteric Poets / New Poets – Write about personal, every day experience • 60 BC – Pompey, Crassus, & Caesar = First Triumvirate – Use colloquial and even vulgar language • 54 BC – last dateable reference in Catullus’ poetry. – But consider themselves very “learned” & poe?c (Catullus probably died soon aer. If so, he was about 30 when he died) • Subjec?vity in Roman poetry was an innovaon 1 3/27/12 Who was Lesbia? Caveat: Beware of the poe?c persona • A source a few centuries later tell us Lesbia is • The seeming artlessness of Catullus is a pseudonym for “Clodia”. deliberate & arul. • Which Clodia? – Catullus creates a whole world for us of his – Many think Clodia Metelli, sister of Clodius life and friends, and every day experiences. Pulcher (popularis poli?cian) and woman whom Cicero vilifies in one of his most famous speeches! – BUT the feeling we get that Catullus’ poetry – But in fact not sure… is off the cuff is testament to his poe?c skill. • Why nickname her Lesbia? – C.’s poetry is a serious and scholarly aempt to change how poetry func?oned. He – a nod to Sappho, famous female Greek poet from 6th century BC, who lived on island of Lesbos. labors to create the impression of an unvarnished glimpse into his life. 2 .

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Catullus, Caesar, and the Foundations of Roman Ideology
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