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#Io saturnalia translation full#

So who’s birthday is the whole of the “christian world” celebrating? They call it “the birth of christ”, but what christ are we talking about? The word “christ” is merely the translation of the Greek word “christos” literally “anointed one”. In fact many pagans would feel the same,for our Christmas Trees, Mistletoe and carol singing would all be familiar. It would indeed be interesting to note that if an ancient Roman were to drop in over our festive season, he would feel right at home.

25th December – Birth of the “invincible” Sun God, Sol.

23rd December – The Sigillaria- Present giving.

21st December – Yalda- Birthday of Mithras – celebrated with dried fruits and nuts.

19th December – The Opalia – festival day of Saturn’s consort Ops.

Saturnalia originated as a farmers festival and commemorated the dedication of the Temple of Saturn, God of Agriculture. This would have been the seasonal greeting heard all over Europe and the Roman Empire.įor seventeen days from the 17th December the party season was celebrated with decorations, wreathes, banquets and present giving and good will to all men. To all of my fellow readers: Io Saturnalia, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays.“IO Saturnalia!”. Oh to have seen the look on Calvus’s face when he reads that book of poetry. The part of the poem that has always amazed me is that Catullus threatens to get Calvus back by emptying the bookshop of every bad piece of poetry he can find, and he names names! Of the three he mentions, Suffenus is the poet whose writing we know the most about in Carmen 22, Catullus describes Suffenus’s verse as akin to lines composed by a goat herder or ditch digger. Catullus also calls Sulla, the original giver of the books, an elementary school teacher, which in ancient Rome is an insult to Sulla’s intelligence. What makes Calvus’s gift especially bad (and funny) is that he regifted it! Catullus calls Calvus out in the poem for his regifting-Calvus received the book as payment from one of his clients, named Sulla, and Calvus then passes the book off to Catullus. A book of lousy poetry seems a fitting joke gift between these men.

Catullus considers Calvus an excellent poet and the two close friends would have contests and challenge each other to poetry duels. In addition to being a poet, Calvus is also a lawyer and Vatinianus who is mentioned in the first few lines in the poem is an odious man that Calvus once prosecuted. We know from his other poems that Calvus is one of Catullus’s most dear and well-respected friends. You got your bad feet, the troubles of our generation, Pay you back with these punishments! And as for you,īad poets, goodbye! Go away! Go back to that place where To the bookshop and collecting all the poisonous poetry I canįind for you-Suffenus and Caesius and Aquinus. On this day! I will not, absolutely not, let this go,

Of days, Saturnalia, so that I might die again and again Oh great gods, what a horribleĪnd accursed little book! That very book which I amĬonvinced you sent to your friend Catullus on this best

Gift to you then this situation has not turned out so badlyįor me, and, in fact, it is good and fortuitous, and yourĮfforts are not in vain. The elementary school teacher gave this new and well-chosen What could I have possibly said or done to make youĭestroy me with so much bad poetry? May the godsĭo very bad things to that client of yours who originally I would hate you as much as I hate that guy Vatinianus. Oh Calvus, if I didn’t love you more than my own eyes Catullus then plots the sweet revenge he will inflict upon Calvus (Translation is my own): poet, calls Saturnalia the “best of days.” In his Carmen 14a, Catullus describes his great annoyance when his friend, Calvus, gives him a joke gift-a book of bad poetry!-for Saturnalia. A general spirit of frivolity was felt throughout the city as Romans of all classes participated in the merrymaking.

#Io saturnalia translation full#

This special day, gradually expanded to a full week, was dedicated to the agricultural deity Saturn whose temple in the Forum was the center of sacrifices for the holiday. The ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia held on December 17th in the Julian calendar involved decorating, partying, eating, gift giving and general conviviality.