Catullus References Flashcards
Who is Orcus in poem 3?
King of the underworld.
What is an As in poem 5?
Smallest Roman coin.
What is the evil eye in poem 5?
‘Evil eye’ might curse Romans for wrongdoings.
What is important about the Libyan sands in poem 7?
Libya often represented Africa to the Romans, Cyrene was in Libya.
What is important about Silphium bearing Cyrene?
Silphium is a plant - had medicinal qualities, seasoning, used for contraception/other things.
Essential item of trade from North Africa city of Cyrene.
So critical to economy most coins bore picture of plant.
Cyrene was home of Callimachus - Catullus’ poetic influence.
Who is Battus in poem 7?
Founder of Cyrene and ancestor of Callimachus.
What is the oracle of Jove in poem 7?
Temple of Ammon (associated with Zeus and Jupiter) in Cyrene.
Who is Veranius in poem 9?
Fried of Catullus, also mentioned fondly in other poems.
Where is Hiberum in poem 9?
Spain - Veranius returned from there.
Who is Septimius in poem 45?
Family name of honoured Roman family - suggesting he is a respectable Roman citizen.
Who is Acme in poem 45?
Greek name suggesting she’s a freedwoman.
What is Libya and scorched India in poem 45?
Libya repented Africa to Roman. Both chosen as places where Romans might meet a lion.
Who is Love in poem 45?
Cupid, child of Venus.
Who are Syrians in poem 45?
Either specific reference to impeding attack on Parthians, or general term for Easterners.
Syria was a rich country.
Who are the Britains in poem 45?
Either reference to Caesars invasion of Britain, or term for Westerners. Britain was beloved to be of similar wealth to Eastern nations.
Who is Licinius in poem 50?
Known as Calvus, a poet, wrote miniature epic poem Io.
Who is Nemesis in poem 50?
Ancient goddess of vengeance, punishes wrong doing and hubris, punishments were horrible.
Who is Hortalus in poem 65?
Rivel of Cicero in courts, poet whose tastes were modern compared to Catullus.
Who are the Muses in poem 65?
Goddesses who inspired poetry.
What is Lethe in poem 65?
Stream of Lethe is one of the rivers of the underworld usually associated with forgetfulness of former life.
What is important about Troy in poem 65?
Catullus brother died near Troy (in Asia Minor - northwest Anatolia).
What is Rhoetum in poem 65?
A promontory (headland) near Troy.
What is important about Daulias in poem 65?
Daulia was a city in Greek region of Phocis. Tereus was king and this refers to story in which Procne wife of Tereus, daughter of King Pandion of Athens, avenges her husbands violence to her sister Philomena by killing her own son Its. Tereus pursues the sisters, gods intervene and turn Procne into a nightingale and sister into a swallow.
Who is Itylus in poem 65?
Homeric version of Itys.
Who is the son of Battus in poem 65?
Another name for Callimachus, his fathers name was Battus but name recalls legendary king Battus who founded native city of Cyrene and from whom he claimed descent.
What is the white mark in poem 107?
Cretans dropped white stone into quiver to mark a happy day, a black to mark unhappy day.
