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Catullus 34
Catullus 34
We chaste girls and boys
Are under the teaching of Diana:
Chaste boys and girls,
Let’s sing to Diana.
O Leto’s daughter,
Great child of the greatest Jove,
Your mother birthed you
By the Delian olive tree,
So you might be the mistress of these mountains
And of the expansive woods
And of the lonely woodlands
And of the noisy rivers.
You are called Lucina Juno
By women in the pain of childbirth,
You are called powerful Trivia and
You are called Luna by your borrowed(?) light.
You, goddess, in your monthly course
Marking off the journey of the year,
You fill up the rural hut
Of the farmer with good crops.
By whatever name pleases you
May you be consecrated,
And as you have been used to before, may you
Preserve the children of Romulus.
Catullus 34 Analysis
Catullus 34 Analysis
Catullus 34 explores trust, ritual, and the power of sworn vows in a religious context, highlighting how faith structures human behavior. The poem recounts a series of hymns to various gods, culminating in a ritual oath to ensure their efficacy. The poem emphasizes that the participants believe these words carry real power — their faith in the divine and in ritual performance is what gives the curses meaning. Here, Catullus underscores the human tendency to anchor actions in shared belief and sacred promises, showing that faith, whether in the gods or in ritual authority, shapes conduct and binds communities. Unlike poems about lust, heartbreak, or love, 34 treats belief and ritual devotion as its central concern.
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