An anthology of early Latin epigrams? A ghost reconsidered*
Amiel D. Vardi
In Book 19, chapter 9 of the Nodes Atticae Gellius describes birthday party a young Greek equestrian rank at which group professional singers entertained guests by performing poems Anacreon, Sappho, ‘et poetarum quoque recentium ⋯λεγεῖα quaedam erotica’ (4). After singing, goes on, some συμπόται present challenged Roman achievements in erotic poetry, excepting only Catullus and Calvus, criticized particular Laevius, Hortensius, Cinna, Memmius. Rising to meet this charge, Gellius’ teacher rhetoric, Antonius Julianus, admits superiority Greeks what he calls ‘cantilenarum mollitiae’ general (8), but show that Romans too have good poets, recites four early Latin love epigrams, Valerius Aedituus (frs. 1 2), Porcius Licinus (fr. 6), Lutatius Catulus I). The same three poets are listed order Apuleius’ Apology list amatory provides establish precedents thus invalidate his prosecutors’ referral their accusation (Apul. Apol. 9). is also enumerated Pliny's dignitaries who composed ‘uersiculos seueros parum’ like own (Ep. 5.3.5), an epigram cited Cicero De Natura Deorum 1.79 2). We possess no further evidence connecting other two with composition either or, more generally, ‘light’ verse, poem on literary history attested several sources including Varro, Suetonius, himself.
Classical quarterly