Date of Award

6-1926

Degree Type

Bachelors Essay

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Department

English

First Advisor

Allan P. Farrell

Second Advisor

William M. Magee

Abstract

Catullus has been called- the most enigmatical of the great poets, and the reason is evident at once upon any attempt to arrive at definite information concerning his life. (1) According to Jerome (2), he was born in 87 B.C. and died in 57 B.C. Since Ovid says (3) "Juvenilia cinctus- tempora....docte Catulle,'' and from other sources it is known that he died young, Jerome (or rather Suetonius), is at least consistent. Opposed to this date for his death is his reference (4) to the consulship of Vatinius, who did not become consul until the end of 47 B.C. But since this is the only reference to a date later than 54 B.C. and since Vatinius was in the habit of swearing by his consulship many years before he actually did become consul, the objection is worthless. The date of his birth cannot be disproved, so that if 54 B.C. is assigned as the date of his death, he did actually die young. He was born at Verona and died at Rome.

Comments

A thesis submitted to fulfill the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, College of Liberal Arts, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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