Personae Catulli

Front 1

Gaius Cinna

Back 1

Poet and friend of Catullus; author of Zmyrna; also the man with the litterbearers whose name Catullus says backwards when he's caught in a lie.

"meus sodalis...Cinna est Gaius" = My companion...he's Gaius Cinna

Front 2

Caelius Rufus

Back 2

Lesbia's new lover

"mihi frustra ac nequiquam credite amice" = friend trusted by me in vain and pointlessly

Front 3

Quintilius Varus

Back 3

Man whose girlfriend Catullus calls a harlot; also the man to whom Catullus writes about Suffenus

"me ad suos amores duxerat scortillum" = Varus took me to his love the prostitute

Front 4

Licinius Calvus

Back 4

Orator and poet; Catullus and he enjoy having poetry duels, and Catullus consoles him when his wife, Quintilia, dies.

Front 5

Volusius

Back 5

Wrote the "Annals," which Catullus calls used toilet paper

"cacata charta" = pooped-on papers

Front 6

Suffenus

Back 6

A charming, witty, and sophisticated man whose poetry Catullus does not appreciate. While his poetry looks lovely, it is the stuff of goat-milkers and ditch-diggers.

Front 7

Cornelius Nepos

Back 7

The man to whom Catullus' book of poetry is dedicated; wrote a learned volume of history that Catullus admired

Front 8

Marrucinus Asinius

Back 8

Napkin thief and brother of Gaius Asinius Pollio

Front 9

Quintilia

Back 9

Late wife of Catullus' friend Licinius Calvus

Front 10

Vatinius

Back 10

Man prosecuted by Calvus

Front 11

Quintia

Back 11

Considered beautiful by unsophisticated types, but Catullus can not believe that she would be compared to Lesbia

Front 12

Sestius

Back 12

Friend who promises to invite Catullus to his house for dinner if he will read his political speech against Antius

Front 13

Fabullus

Back 13

Friend of Catullus who is invited to dinner, provided he bring the meal, a beautiful girl, wine, wit, and laughter

Front 14

Furius

Back 14

Companion of Catullus who is asked to deliver not good words to Lesbia

Front 15

Hortensius

Back 15

Well-respected orator whose poetry Catullus does not appreciate. He believes he writes too much and contrasts him to Cinna,whose poetry is better polished

Front 16

Aurelius

Back 16

Companion of Catullus who is asked to deliver not good words to Lesbia

Front 17

Quintus Arrius

Back 17

Orator who affects an aspiration (adds an "h") in an attempt to sound high class

"chommoda dicebat, si quando commmoda vellet dicere" = he used to say hopportunities, when he wanted to say opportunities

Front 18

Veranius

Back 18

The most outstanding of Catullus' 300,000 friends, whose return Catullus rejoices over

Front 19

Caecilius

Back 19

Gentle poet, Catullus' companion, author of the "Magna Mater," whom Catullus would like to come visit