Laus Messallae in the First Book of the Corpus Tibullianum (original) (raw)

Through the study of Messalla in the first book of the Corpus Tibullianum Vaios Vaiopoulos transports us to Augustus’ time. This study attempts a review of Messalla’s presence in the first book of the Corpus Tibullianum, with special emphasis given, naturally, to elegy 1.7, written in honour of the general’s birthday. It is noted that though from the first elegy it is acknowledged that the poet and the general belong to two completely different worlds, the latter’s world is not overall rejected. In 1.3 we effectively have a switch from the obsequium to Delia to an obsequium to Messalla, while the presence of the general as patron in the first part is balanced by Amor’s patronage in the second. Similarly, the contrast of the presence of a representative of Romanitas in the bucolic dream of 1.5 is rectified thanks to Messalla’s divine epiphany. In 1.7 the reception of laus Messallae relies on the reading abilities of the general/reader and the reader in general, as they are essential for the comprehension of minor elements, such as the part played by the references to rivers, the identity of the father, the identification of Osiris, Bacchus and Messalla. It is maintained, finally, that the presence of the general can also be determined in the rest of the poems, thanks, for example, to the theme of viniculture. (taken from the Introduction of this collective volume, edited by Spyridon Tzounakas)