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Wed

Catullus
2/15

Background

still 1st dramatic political turmoil


in
century BC period & cultural crisis
negative
neither nor Ro m a n
positive question values
-

of

traditional Roman
identity is
challenged, n o tf rt
but omhe
bottom
up
-

epicenter is elite
the
poeta n ow thneew
poets

t h e title
Cicero gave them "nou," wa s negative be we re Ro m a n
they unlike other poets
-

Catullus & New


the Poets

The Roman
cultural crisis
begins t hgroup
e poets,
of who
challenged identity

Catullus is the most


famous be his
poems survived

Prior Poetry
Poetry
vs New

we r e
poets usually slaves or members of low
society

Ro m a n elite was
the trained to
be
public figures - wrote oratories & historical accounts

we r e
pastpoetry clear function instructs
c i t i ze n write personal
about values for art, doesn'tn e e d tteach
epics body new poets art o
-

there is a shiftf rom lives of public


activity l i ve s
to of intellectm o re Greek,aesthetic

new
the sentiments
challenge old
poets ways
- endorse private they a re a threat

Catullus & his Poems

he died very after left Lesbia


young being by

The
B o o k of life i ntellectconsidered feminine sphere
he wrote 120 poems -

Catullus;collec tion thate ndorses a of be


to a

his poems talk about


very personal things h e writes abouts exual desires private sentiments aren'tsupposed be
to public Rom an world
in the

homosexual sexual for


being was not
revolutionary writing abouti twa s he should've b e e n
running
consol

Dedicatory
The Poem Catullus

"fresh" -
uses two
he rd to c o n f i r m thatCicero is
right he is new

"Little" opposite epic h ave


doesn't shor tand
the of it
pedigogical value;i ti s not
muddy
-

polished" fo r
art ar t, aesthetic, sophisticated

the book is dedicated tCornelius,


o a Ro m a n
true
-
i ro n i c because h e doesn'tw r i te like a true Roman

he wants his poetry


to - unlike Roman lives,
last w h i ch were dedicated t
t oh e s t a t e I didn'tm atter after death

for allowed characters


he asks Mose
the
immortality
- Greek epics gain gloryyour
to n a m e will n ob
t e
forgotten,h e wants
glory bless himself

wa s novel
it for poethimself to
the
gain glory

Lesbla Catullus VI

their doesn't he becomes jealous;s h e dumps him


honeymoon phase last
very long

l a t i n version:p l u m
the key Roman value;fidem pledge members
d evo t i w
on a s community
in connects
loyalty a
he incorporates Roman values into his own personal sphere -
form r ebellion.Inquistic
of crisis via appropriation

of values
by redefining words turnats
recreates new
system
its
revolutionary, which is
why Cicero sees as
it a

AHIS Catullus I

poem abouta
young boy who castrates himself in a moment of
fury

self referential Roman world Catullus endorces his feminine side abouti ndividualistic
viewed as a
poems gender in the is performed by writing things

castrated his masculine side


by writing his
poetry itcomes with
regret
Wed
Lucretius
2122

Philosophy l ove
the ofw isdom

philosophy studies how the


wo r l d works,i ti s not based on faith like
religion does uses rational
assumptions

bor n in Greece in 7th


the 6th century
-
Asia Minor th
with P
er e Socratics -
> Plato Aristotle

branches: / that universe, mind purpose of life,


three
physics -
elements laws regulate the logic
-
how the works I understands
reality,ethics
-

principles of
good life

three of inductive method h ave


I
types logic bag coins, pull out5 0 of a re
them,s i n c e they all re st th
of ce
oins be
-
a too
of
pennies, the m u st pennies

deductive method - all men are mortal, Socraties is a man, he is mortal

upductive method there murder victim l see someone who


bloody, m u s tb e the
they
-

is a
you is so murderer

stoic philosophy is epicurean philosophy le Caesar, Horace, Virgil -

Romans

Epicurean Philosophy

Epicurus was a Greek philosopher JY-ZLOBC

he traveled I he made school Athens G a rd e n


taughtp hilosophy - a in the

The Garden wa s a
tightk n i tcommunity
-
allowed womend his slave join
to

he followeda to m i s m of atoms & void absence of them


everything wa s made is an

believed u n i ve rs e wa s
the infinite, free will due atomic swerve, natural phenomenons due tnature
was to were o
gods
not

teaches pleasure is ultimate


the
good, achieved
through tranquility

aponia -
freedom physical suffering
f ro m us ataraxia - freedom from mental
suffering
he believed in
gods,
the think
didn't
but
they i nvolved
weren't in human affairs - shouldn'tb e feared

he believed death wa s
just analation -
shouldn'tb e feared

Epicurianism lead to metaphysics &


m a te r i a l i st hedonism

movementi nfluenced
many Romans Caesar stoic;Lucretius;Cicero
who
againstCato,
his -
was was

tR ise
he
Christianity
opposed his movement
thoughtG o d
they was
always present
-
of

Lucretius' On the
N a t u re
things
of

N a t u re of
On the
things didactic epic is about
teaching
it a
poem philosophy
-
is a

written than allows for memorization


in
poetry rather
prose because they
we rerecited
orally

books 1
& 2.physics -
atoms
thing
the c a n ' tb e
that cut, multiple expanding universes thatw i l l eventually perish

304:Logic, induction, made up atoms mortal and death shouldn'tb e feared because doesn'tex i s t
books uses
anthropology,o u r souls of we a re
-

a re it

fe a r thate nslaves the


h u m a n mind
all civilizations are based the death, forcing to
them create
religious Epicurian philosophy freeing
-

on of is

Religion

causes greatesth u m a n
the crime -
enslaves and human
corrupts minds

Agamemnon m u st appease Artemis to get crops by sacrificing his


daughter her
to

Polybius on
Religion
Ethics -

Epicurean

the purpose l i fe the b o e removed from internal turmoil


is
pleasure t
-
of

fe a r
the ot
gods,
f he desire accumulate realth,
to
political c a re rs disruptt h a t Ataraxia

the lives a
hidden with small f riends Rom an state
greatE picurean group of
away from the

free from fear


you can
only h eo m e n tw h e n
s i ze tm you a re

very challenging for Romans -


ants
religion and
popularity;b u tvery popular i n t1
hest
century
Thurs
The Battle of Actium
2/23

History -

Caesar

Caesar defeats Pompey in


48, who flees & is beheaded in
Egypt -
his head is Caesar
sentt o

46, Caesar returns tRo dead, rules


me he believes the
oligarchy s e n a te
the
is
in o -
republic is it an

Caesar proclaims himself dictator moment of crisis, dictators take


in a power for 6 months;h e claims he will rule for life
-

In 44, Caesar is killed in front of th


setatue of
Pompey by senators for ts
hea ke of freedom

History -

Antony & Oc tavian

& Octavian of Cassar


afterwards, Antony 2nd hand successor Caesar
of
adopted son -
real heir rise as new
generals

in private letters, Cicero writes thatOc tavian wa s a


nobody a
very young a thSee n a te feel
Antony is
stronger, even though Octavian inherited
troops
the

the Senate
sponsors Octavian so can
they defeatAntony - like how sided
they withPompey against
Caesar

butOctavian, once he defeats


Antony, turns
against
thSee n a te a strikes an alliance with
Antony
and Triumvirate

they wanted to
it be
approved by the Romans -

presentthemselves as saviors R ome


of

History -
Triumvirate

43, t h rTriumvirate members must soldiers solders need


In the ee appease the a
general, whom
they
support
-

Octavian confiscates the


Nor ther n Italian land bloodbath

2nd
The Triumvirate learned from Caesar's forgiveness, which
goth i m
killed
they of
make the list
conscription:r i d s of
them enemies, getm oney

Virgil's 3
Major Works

Bucolics
gett hfe poetry,Geogics,Aenued
in this environment, we i rs two r k of
Virgil Eclogues -

pastoral

Pastoral Poetry

genre begins
The G re e k
i n the world

countryside/locus amoenus-beautiful place;t hsetting


e is maternaltakes care of the
people

place
the is populated by shepherds, who
compete in
singing competitions and have no wor ries

re a l world,
escapistp oetry-runs away from the lives in a world of their ow n
imagination;love, beauty, pleasure;n o politics;illusion

Eclogues
t h e harsh
I reality of w a r shatters
pastoral
the role can
poetry & beauty survive?
-

silenced re a l world o ftraumen


the ability
to c re a te eve n
art when is
it threatened tb
o e
by the -

poetry

Civil War Synopsis

in 42, Octavian & Antony secure power & divide


it:Octavian in East,
the
Antony in tWe
he st

32, they r- h ow do conceptualize between brothers?


in
go wa
t o you a war
Octavian Background
Octavian creates connections Alexander
with the Great, Romans
who the loved -
came
both
power
to at1 9 when i n h e r i te d
they from
it their fathers

Caesar has been killed his exiled; beloved Romans


assassins were s i n c e he
by the
-

was

son of Cassar,
Octavian mills this -
he claims he is the who is
according D e t av i a r
to -
n ow divine, so he is son divine
of

he back the
myth J u l i a n family,Octavian
Aeneas, the Venus
brings of claims his
pedigre that
goes
all
way
the back to

When Acneas fled from Troy, he became the embodiment of devotion th


o is father -
Octavian vs Caesar

he can tc l a i m he is divine not


very Roman, buth e
subliminally connects himself Apollo
to

Apollo light, masculinity, rationality rivaled


Dionysus intoxication,
irrationality, darkness, temminity -
West
us East

Antony Background

he
goes
Eastt o
getmoney & forces;mar riage Cleopatra
to in
Egypt
concession
Egyptwa s important
to -

grains
and wealth

Cleopatra joined Antony


with because he s a fe r
is the bet Octavian vs
Antony

he creates a w
connec Hercules
tioni t h
-

greatexplorer of
the the East

East
he creates a connection
Dionysus
with -

god of the

The Civil War

in 32, Octavian claims


Antony wanted give Egyptians
to m o re land I capital
move t h e to Alexandria

he declares wa r
Cleopatra
against
-

against East,
th e n oa
t civil wa r

Aeneid:Book I I I
The

Venus Aeneas history Ro m e


along c e n te r Eckprasis description of
magic sheild, A ctium
which the Battle ar t
gives a depicts of
r
t hi
em , of in the -

claims
Augustus Caesar
taughtfo r s e n a te
the & people;t hEgyptians
e were described as luxurious & diverse -

united,
not barbaric ch aot i c

describes Cleopatra as a coward;


Apollo Oc tavian is described as winner
the

Augustus is
sitting on
temple
the of Apollo when the
triumph ends -
Oc tavian wins
Mon
Battle
The of Actium & The
Princeps
2127

Horace 1.37

first2 doesn't have


e
stanzas.Th ev i l queen has been defeated, so can
they celebrate -

labeling her as queen is loaded, since


Italy royalty

Eastern monarchy is republic of Rome -


she wants to destroy the capital

She is characterized as a drunk-Dionysus, mad, dillusional-subdued by Cassar (she is the hunted

men were castrated Egyptt o


e n s u re
patronage alludes
Antony, viewed
to as effemminant
-

in

shifti n focus:Cleopatra goes from a


deadly monster a
t o
gentle dove,whati s feminine a mad becomes masculine r a t i o n a l

from noble for tRomans


she
goes drinking wine
drinking
to
poison
-
suicide is viewed as he

what
w e read what the believes
is nar rator not
necessarily opinion of the
the author
-

internal focalization narrates eyes of


the
through a character - tRomans
he a re described as hostile
by Cleopatra,
th
not near rator

Horace allows tB
hea t t l e of Actium tb
o e narrated by 2
perspectives -
since Egyptian perspective
the is last, is
it
dominant;positions a re unreconciled

History

31 B a t t l e of Actium:Octavian defeats
The Guil War
Antony & ends the
-

how do you 7 0 years of


nation after civil War?
bring together a

what
is republic
Octavian's role after he has restored the
everyone prior
had been killed

Caesar remains from 44 BC tI4AD, when he dies at 14 old


in
power o
years

The Deeds of the


Divine Augustus

inscription t h a tw a s published all


to Romans -
he couldn'th e , he
but presents a
positive narrative of himself

1 inherited the
we a l t h Carmies Cassar, againstA ntony
in 44, he of which he raised

republic "oppressed" by "a faction" - a civil war,charac terizes himself as


working for state
claims the
being
was not the

constitutional
power

34 he claims he was an absolute a dominant power, so he


gives
b ack to
it th republic
e (SPAR) reestablished Roman republic &
the
gives
Romans
t he what wa n t
they

27, says he has the influence actoritas and o fficial, executive power I still affect politics
beginning in he power of not imperium dangerous can
-

accomplishes;laurel- Apollo, soldier, sheild-bringing


27, he rewarded fo r his crown soldier saved old
back the
in is
gifts civic who another
republic

the sheild displayed avir tues -


virtus (mankness), iustitial justice), pletas duty
towards tgods
he & country), clementia -

Sallist, describing Roman tradition

had the reto,h e this


tribunes
the were elected by the
plebs & power of is
given power
-
s av i o r of
people,
the father the
of
country

Horace's Roman Odes

Horace was born in 65BCE;h i s father was a slave, butw h e n Horace was born, he was still a free Roman citizen

he studied in Rone;w h e n his father died, he traveled Athens


t o & served as military tribune for Brutus

back in Rome, he metMecenus


through Virgil

wrote the Epodes, the Epistles,


Satires, the the
Odes -
reflects on whati tmeans be
to a Ronsan
In e w enjoy tlh
iettle Epicurian philosophy, fa te
subjectt o
generation, devotion
to the
gods & their importance, things -

I dealizes young Roman soldier, dignity of


dying for country,
the
encourages living frugally a simply, tc
r ui
ev i l death
merit, acceptance through

3 The idea of a man


just
is connected tRomulus
o - idea of
expansion ofRome, spreading good

m i d sto f of bad?
4 Caesar
puts in the
gods
the -

they comfort & counsel him,i s authority


the Caesar
good or

5 & victories of solders;motivation for Rome, luxury


Augustus -

post wa r virtues the


good of not

6 for s i n s of
your ancestors;only resolved by appeasing gods, current m o re immoral societies
you pay
the the
gives
society rise to

the Odes relate


Epicurean philosophy
to and
representAugustus
Wed Augustus;The Golden Age
3/1

Horace Odes 1 - 6

these odes
engage in Roman themes & reflectAugustus' political discourse

I simplicity of life;Epicurean philosophy. hidden,Cato's agriculture:farmers


aboutt h e I've on a re b
t est
he
frugal

a b o u tmilitary courage
# -

virtus/mankness,appropriated words of mother


parthern

#a
I bout
justice

Augustus' policies a re a n
attemptt o
go back tt
oh e
good old days

w/
juxtaposition Crassus (triumuir rl Pompey & Caesar, failed u s Partheons)
expedition Regulus (1stP unicto
captive by
War: Carthineans & dus wl honor

Ire t u r n t
t oh eold Roman pretas

I - 3 6 :poetic
# autobiography & Horace,3 74 2 :Octavian,4 2 - 8 0 :t h
gods
e
(Octavian is in middle
the
ground blow human a godl

beginning,
In the Morace is beneficiary
the of the Muses

middle, Octavian will


beneficiary of defeats Jupiter Titans
& the
in the claims be o n c e he his enemies, like & tMuses
he
poetry
a

h i m s e l ft o wantt o
Augustus always makes sure tothe Jupiter doesn't be a
king, justwants trestore the Republic
-

not o

therefore, Horace endorces


both Octavian's politics and unmasks his real
power
-
is he more like
Apollo or Jupiter?

Golden
The Age

& harmonious life


peace w it gods
t hh e

Hesiod The
Golden Race:t h
teime Kronus/Saturn, Jupiter,harmonious
of relations
mp ul nature,n o labor,peace, maternal nature
-
not

40s,
in the
Italy faces horrible for peace framed return tt
ohGeo l d e n
Age
things, longing
the is as a

Eclogue approx4 O s
I

all of nature comes


together -

paradise who fear:peace I


harmony

second half, a re still traces thIe Age:labor, exploration I


i n the he claims there of ro n
sailing, danger & war-build walls, fearing invasion

little by little, we will th


gett o Geolden Age

Argustus & Golden


Age 22
approx on

New Golden
In 17, he claims he is
ushering in a Age - the of
reality Ealogue 4

only commissioned Romer poem. Horace writes of re t u r n


the of th e
Golden Age in C
t armen
he Saeculare

Augustus builds
many A l t a r of
structures:The Peace;t hrepresent
e the Golden Age

The
Georgies
didactive poetry
-

poetry thatteaches,a poem on


farming

IV: Cato's On
I :agriculture, I I :trees, III:
raising herds, beekeeping - s i m i lar to
Agriculture

book of natural order


the is viewed as a
symbol h u m an
progress -
violence on nature, subverting

nature retaliates with


things such as plague (end ofIII),
the flood (mudI) -
constant
struggle bow human
progress & nature
Orpheus
# &
Eurydice epyllion

they a re lovers,Eurydice is killed


by Arestaeus so she
goes the
to underworld

Orpheus -
tf
hierst poet
-
is able ts
oo o t h e Hades so he can retur n Eurydice, buth e looks back on the
way I loses her forever

att heen d of the he cries for 7 months an d then dies


poem,

world of
he tells nature his
story -
vo i c e
the
poetry
of is
only thing thatc a n
the n a t u re
tame in
the human
progress

buti n e
t nd,
he tvo
he i c e
poetry
of is silenced;e ve n nature succurs th
to ve
i o l e n ce h u m a n nature
of

#136-176 tP
her a i s e s of
Italy

brings you
b ack
Eclogue
to 4 -
same Golden Age features (textu s subtext)

also some small traces of Iron Age -


sea
power, wa r, labor - make it clear is
it nota real Golden Age (subtextu nder mines tideal
he

unmasks t h e
reality of Augustus -
undermines his nar rative of Golden
the
Age

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