CATULLUS 68 - Scuola Normale Superiore

• Theognis 249f. ο⎡ξ 〈ππϖν ν⊕τοι!ιν ⁄φ→μενο!, λλ !ε πϒμχει / γλα Μου! ϖν δ∩ρα
⇒ο!τεφ νϖν. Theognis’ friend Cyrnus will be transported through Greece by ‘the splendid gifts of the
violet-crowned Muses’, i.e. Theognis’ poems.
• Theognidea 1056-58 α⎣λει, κα⇐ Μου!∩ν μνη!〉μεψ μφ〉τεροι: / α ται γ ρ τ δ ƒδϖκαν ƒξειν
κεξαρι!μϒνα δ∩ρα / !ο⇐ κα⇐ ⁄μο⇔, μεν δ μφιπερικτ⇔ο!ιν. The addressee should play
the aulos and along with the speaker they should ‘remember the Muses’, as they have given them ‘these
pleasing gifts’, that they sing ‘to those living all around’: the Muses’ gifts are song and music.
• Bacchylides 19.3f. There are countless ways of song for the man ⎤! ν παρ Πιερ⇔δϖν λ − / ξη!ι
δ∩ρα Μου! ν ... – that is, who knows how to compose poetry.
• [Leonidas of Tarentum], AP 7.715.5f. ο⎣νομα δ ο⎡κ ≥μυ!ε Λεϖν⇔δου: α⎡τ με δ∩ρα / κηρ⎛!!ει
Μου!ϒϖν π ντα! ⁄π ±ελ⇔ου!. His poetic achievements have ensured immortality for Leonidas.
• Horace, Epist. 2.1.243 ad libros et ad haec Musarum dona ‘To (these) books, and these gifts of the
Muses’: to books and their contents; the context shows that these are the poems of Choerilus of Iasus.
(a variant on iib) ‘the gifts of the Muses and of Apollo’ = μου!ικ→
• Plato, Lg. 796E6 Τ∫ το⇔νυν το⎛τοι! ∞ϕ°! περ⇐ τ τ∩ν Μου!∩ν τε κα⇐ Απ〉λλϖνο! δ∩ρα ...
With this term Plato refers back to another passage (664B-673B), where he had been discussing choral
singing.
B) MUNERA VENERIS
(i) erotic attractivity, sex-appeal
• Iliad 3.54f. ο⎡κ ν τοι ξρα⇔!μηι κ⇔ψαρι! τ τε δ∩ρ Αφροδ⇔τη!, / × τε κ〉μη τ〉 τε εδο!, ⎟τ
⁄ν κον⇔ηι!ι μιγε⇔η!. Paris’ beauty (his hair and his looks) would be of little use to him if he were to lie
in the dust. Thus also Paris’ response ibid. 3.64f. μ→ μοι δ∩ρ ⁄ρατ πρ〉φερε ξρυ!ϒη! Αφροδ⇔τη!: /
ο⎣ τοι π〉βλητ ⁄!τ⇐ ψε∩ν ⁄ρικυδϒα δ∩ρα...
• Theognidea 1303f. ο⎡κϒτι δηρ∫ν / ♣ϕει! Κυπρογενο⎝! δ∩ρον ⇒ο!τεφ νου. The speaker
encourages a young boy to yield to him ‘for you will not possess for long the gift of the violet-crowned
goddess who sprung forth on Cyprus.’
(ii) love-making, sexual intercourse
• Mimnermus frg. 1.1-3 West τ⇔! δ′ β⇔ο!, τ⇔ δ′ τερπν∫ν τερ ξρυ!°! Αφροδ⇔τη!; / τεψνα⇔ην,
⎟τε μοι μηκϒτι τα⎝τα μϒλοι, / κρυπταδ⇔η φιλ〉τη! κα⇐ με⇔λιξα δ∩ρα κα⇐ ε⎡ν→ … In
Mimnermus’ rather repetitive list of benefits that Aphrodite bestows on mankind, ‘the gifts’ stand between
‘furtive love-making’ and ‘going to bed’. Note the echoes of Il. 3.64f.
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