Metapoetic Pseudonyms in Horace, Propertius and Ovid

Heslin, Peter

doi:10.1017/s0075435811000062

Metapoetic Pseudonyms in Horace, Propertius and Ovid

Heslin, Peter

Authors

Professor Peter Heslin p.j.heslin@durham.ac.uk
Professor

Abstract

Two poets addressed by Propertius in his first book are in fact pseudonyms. Ponticus was formed on the model of Horace's Alpinus to designate someone who embodies the antithesis of the poet's Callimachean sensibilities. Bassus is none other than Horace himself, who was then in the course of writing iambics. In the eleventh epode, Horace responded in kind by creating the pseudonyms Pettius, Lyciscus and Inachia, all of which derive from aspects of Propertius' first book. This exchange between Horace and Propertius has echoes in their later work. We conclude by examining why Ovid seems to treat Ponticus and Bassus as real poets in the Tristia.

Citation

Heslin, P. (2011). Metapoetic Pseudonyms in Horace, Propertius and Ovid. The Journal of Roman Studies, 101, 51-72. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0075435811000062

Journal Article Type	Article
Publication Date	Nov 1, 2011
Deposit Date	Apr 24, 2012
Publicly Available Date	Sep 12, 2012
Journal	Journal of Roman Studies
Print ISSN	0075-4358
Electronic ISSN	1753-528X
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	101
Pages	51-72
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1017/s0075435811000062

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© Copyright Cambridge University Press 2011. This paper has been published by Cambridge University Press in "Journal of Roman studies" (101 (2011) 51-72) http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=JRS