Rewriting Catullus 63 in Renaissance Italy

The article focusses on two Renaissance reinterpretations of Catullus 63, one of his least imitated poems in Italy during that period. I deal with the poetic reinterpretation of Catullus’ lines and the reshaping of his choice of metre and genre. I start with a poem by Marullus that defined the way Catullus 63 was later imitated; I continue with the description of a unique reshaping of Catullus’ Attis by Giovambattista Pigna, in which I show some reminiscences from Ariosto’s Furioso. I add insights on Pigna’s blending of Catullus with other ancient and contemporary sources.