Homosexuality In Catullus Poetry

Classical literature is well-known for its expression of homosexuality. Latin love poetry reflects this, as love poetry relies on the author’s vulnerability. Homosexuality, though not entirely accepted at the time, was a practice that remained almost exclusively among the wealthy. People were aware of the pueri delicati that frequented the households of the rich. The manifestation of this idea in literature is best represented by Neoteric poetry and, more specifically, Catullus. Catullus utilizes his poetry as a means of showing his affection, whether for friends or lovers, and as a means of reflecting the condition of Roman society. In the Catulli Carmina, Catullus writes most often to his friends and to his female lover, Lesbia. Not with

14.1-2). This phrase appears multiple times, and it is first seen in reference to the sparrow of Lesbia, “quem plus illa oculis suis amabat” (whom she was loving more than her own eyes, Cat. 3.5). Yet, the specific use of language among his friends is more a mirror of Roman society than a window into Catullus’ personal life. Upon the return of Veranius, he promises that, “applicansque collum / iucundum os oculosque saviabor” (leaning on your neck, I will kiss your pleasant mouth and eyes, Cat. 9.8-9). His writing also benefits from his use of diminutives, such as in his poem to Asinius Marrucinus when he states, “haec amem necesse est / ut Veraniolum meum et Fabullum” (it is necessary that I love these things as I love my dear Veranius and Fabullus, Cat. 12.16-17). Using the diminutive of Veranius could simply have been a quick way to fit the meter, but if this was the case, the reader would see greater evidence of this within the poem. Surely someone as gifted as Catullus could have come

It is in the writing about and to Juventius where Catullus displays the theme of homosexuality clearly. These poems are known as the Juventius-Furius-Aurelius cycle, and most commonly include poems 15, 16, 21, 23, 24, and 26. He begins with the issue of a mock apology regarding the homosexual nature of the poems to follow: “Si qui forte mearum ineptiarum / lectores eritis manusque vestras / non horrebitis admovere nobis” (If you who bravely will be readers of my foolishness, and not shrink from touching me with your hands, Cat. 14B.1-3). Then he continues to speak of “his boy” or “his love,” writing with the affection with which he wrote Lesbia, “his girl.” The main difference is in the coarseness of the poem; the reader can acknowledge his feelings for Juventius, but now Catullus writes with much cruder imagery than he did before. He begins by asking Aurelius to “conserues puerum mihi pudice” (then modestly guard my boy for me, Cat. 15.5), which sounds acceptable alone, except, “uerum a te metuo tuoque pene / infest pueris bonis malisque” (in truth, I am afraid of you and your penis, hostile to boys, both good and bad, Cat. 15.9-10). In another poem to Aurelius, he writes “pedicare cupis meos amores” (you want to sleep with my boy, Cat. 21.4), which he asks Aurelius to refrain from “ne finem facias, sed irrumatus” (lest you should reach your end, but with a