Tibullus, Albius

Tibullus, Albius 

Born circa 50 B.C; died circa 19 B.C. Roman poet.

The name of Tibullus is associated with a collection of elegies in three books (in later editions, four books). It is now believed, however, that only the first two books and two poems in the third are actually his. The themes of his elegies include the comfort of home, fidelity to one’s lady, reverence for the gods, rural and family festivals, condemnation of war, and the vain pursuit of glory and wealth. Tibullus’ poems are distinguished by skillful shifts of theme and mood, an elegant style, irreproachable taste, and a sense of proportion. His language is simple and strictly literary.

WORKS

Carminum libri tres. Edited by F. W. Lenz. Leiden, 1959.
In Russian translation:
Elegii, 2nd ed. Translated and annotated by A. Fet. St. Petersburg, 1898.
In Katull, Tibull, Propertsii. [Moscow, 1963.]

REFERENCES

Istoriia rimskoi literatury, vol. 1. Moscow, 1959.
Schuster, M. Tibull-Studien. Vienna, 1930.