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Title: Venerem igitur almum adorans
Subtitle: Pour un fragment de Laevius chez Macrobe (Sat. III, 8, 1-3)
Author(s): BOIKOU, Angeliki
Journal: Latomus
Volume: 82    Issue: 3   Date: 2023   
Pages: 467-484
DOI: 10.2143/LAT.82.3.3292427

Abstract :
In his Saturnalia Macrobius quotes some verses of Laevius, a little-known poet of the 1st century BC whose poetry survives only in fragments. In Sat. III, 8, 1-3 in particular, the author argues in favor of the lectio deus, used by Virgil (Aen. II, 632) as a reference to Venus, and he offers further testimonia from the ancient literature proving the bisexual nature of the deity. Laevius’ fragment (Laev. carm. frg. 26 Bl.) testifies not only the dual nature of Venus but also that of the Moon. However, this section seems to have been interpreted somehow confusingly, influenced by the parallel tradition of commentaries on Virgil (Servius, Servius Danielis). The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the presence of Laevius’ Erotopaegnia within a common source between Macrobius, Servius and Servius Danielis for Aen. II, 632. In light of this argument, we propose a new interpretation of the end of Sat. III, 8, 3, where a fragment of the historian Philochorus of Athens is cited.

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