3.12 Chaste and Faithful Galla Flashcards
When was it written?
20BC
What is the main message?
- It shows the negative impacts of Augustus’ campaigns on those who go, and especially on those who stay
What is the context of this poem:
- It’s based around the campaign that Augustus sent Tiberius on in 20BC to get the standards back
How could you…
How could you leave Galla crying, to follow Augustus’ brave standard
Was the glory…
Was the glory of Parthia’s spoils worth so much to you
May all you…
May all you greedy ones perish equally
And whoever…
And whoever else prefers his weapon to a faithful bride
You..
You, you madman
What shall a…
What shall a girl do with no fear to guard her
With Rome to…
With Rome to instruct her in its voluptuousness
Gifts will…
Gifts will not win Galla
Postumus will be…
Postumus will be another Ulysses
Aelia Galla…
Aelia Galla will outdo Penelope’s loyalty
How could you leave Galla crying, to follow Augustus’ brave standard:
- Negative impact of war on families
- Contrast of ‘crying’ and ‘brave’
Was the glory of Parthia’s spoils worth so much to you:
- Suggests motivation for the Parthian campaign is wealth rather than getting revenge on the Parthians
May all you greedy ones perish equally and whoever else prefers his weapon to a faithful bride!
- Paints soldiers as the selfish ones opposed to the usual portrayal of them as being brave and selfless
- Propertius doesn’t agree with the priorities of many men
You, you madman:
- Propertius believes you have to be deluded to choose glory over family
What is meant by Araxes’ water?
It’s a river in Armenia, which had to be crossed on the Parthian campaign
What shall a girl do with no fear to guard her:
- Galla has been left vulnerable, her husband should be at home protecting her
With Rome to instruct her in it’s voluptuousness:
‘Voluptuousness’- usually sexualised verb to refer to women
- This reference alludes to the decline in morals in Rome, including an increase in adultery
Gifts will not win Galla:
- She won’t participate in adultery
Postumus will be another Ulysses:
- Comparison between Ulysses and Postumus could be seen to support Augustus’ campaigns, as it makes Postumus appear like a hero
Aelia Galla will outdo Penelope’s loyalty:
- She has proven herself more loyal than the most loyal woman ever known
What could be implied by Postumus’ name?
- ‘Post’ is another word for ‘after’- the implication is that he’ll die or is already dead
