Home > Catalogue > Lexis > Num. 41 (n.s.) – Dicembre 2023 – Fasc. 2 > Il porco e la maggiorana. Per una lettura epicurea del carme 13 di Catullo

Lexis | Num. 41 (n.s.) – Dicembre 2023 – Fasc. 2

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Research Article

Il porco e la maggiorana. Per una lettura epicurea del carme 13 di Catullo

Nicola Piacenza    Ricercatore indipendente    

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abstract

In addition to a reminiscence of some epigrams written by the Epicurean Philodemus of Gadara, in Catullus 13 we can also recognize an allusion to some verses of Lucretius (6.973‑8), in which the marjoram unguentum is placed alongside the image of the pig that shuns it. This allusion could be explained by the custom of comparing the followers of Epicurus precisely to pigs, as indicated even by Lucretius’ contemporary Cicero. The invitation to Fabullus, in an atmosphere of playful Epicurean lightheartedness, would therefore induce his friend not to flee from the precious unguentum donated by Veneres Cupidinesque, since he could, thanks to his venustas, enjoy its sweet and refined perfume to the full.

Published
Dec. 18, 2023
Accepted
May 24, 2022
Submitted
Jan. 19, 2022
Language
IT

Keywords: Pig • Philodemus • Epicurus • Marjoram • Catullus

permalink http://doi.org/10.30687/Lexis/2724-1564/2023/02/006

Copyright: © 2023 Nicola Piacenza. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.