Expertlatin
- What does Catullus's famous phrase odi et amo mean?
- What is the translation of odi et amo?
- What is the Latin poem ODI ET?
What does Catullus's famous phrase odi et amo mean?
When their relationship soured, he pictured Lesbia soliciting “on crossroads and in alleys” and complained of being “crucified” by his feelings: odi et amo (“I hate and I love”). But Catullus was also the author of a short epic that rivaled Homer in its profundity.
What is the translation of odi et amo?
The verbs odi et amo sum up this paradox. For odi can mean 'detest' or 'loathe', as well as 'hate'; amo can mean 'desire' or 'lust for', as well as 'love'. This gives the translation 'I loathe her, I lust for her'; a more subtle and a more interesting paradox than 'I hate and I love'.
What is the Latin poem ODI ET?
“Odi et amo” (“I hate and I love”) is a short poem or epigram by the Roman lyric poet Catullus, written in elegiac couplet form sometime around 65 BCE. It is often referred to as “Catullus 85” or “Carmina LXXXV” for its position in the generally accepted catalogue of Catullus' works.
