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PROPERTIUS

Volume 15 · 166 words · 1797 Edition

(Sextus Aurelius), a celebrated Latin poet, born at Mevania, a city of Umbria, now called Bevagna, in the duchy of Spoleto. He went to Rome after the death of his father, a Roman knight, who had been put to death by order of Augustus, for having followed Antony's party during the triumvirate. Propertius in a short time acquired great reputation by his wit and abilities, and had a considerable share in the esteem of Maecenas and Cornelius Gallus. He had also Ovid, Tibullus, Bassus, and the other ingenious men of his time, for his friends. He died at Rome 19 B.C. He is printed with almost all the editions of Tibullus and Catullus; but the best edition of him is that which was given separately by Janus Brouckhuius at Amsterdam, 1702, in 4to, and again in 1714, 4to, cum curis secundis ejusdem. We have four books of his Elegies or Amours with a lady called Hoelia, or Hoelia, to whom he gave the name of Cynthia.