Una guida agli Elisi: appunti sul Carme 76 di Catullo

Catullus’ Carmen 76 leaves a trace in the “memory” of Tibullus, sick and afraid of death (1,3), and of Ovid exul (trist. 4,10): “sick with love”, Catullus addresses a heartfelt prayer to the Gods, asking «extremam iam in morte opem», in exchange for his fides and vita pura. Tibullus and Ovid repeat his solemn oath before the severe tribunals of Hades and of Augustus; Ovid also indicates in purity of the soul the basic requisite to lead the Elegiac colleagues to the Elysian Fields (am. 3,9) and to justify himself.