The Goddess Venus in Lucretius’ poem ‘De rerum natura’

Abstract

The true meaning of the image of the goddess Venus, its role and place in the philosophical poem of Lucretius, reveals itself through a comparative analysis of the word usage in Lucretius and contemporary Roman poetry (and prose) taken in the context of philosophical and religious quest of Roman writers of the first century BC. All 31 cases of using the name Venus in Lucretius are analyzed. New arguments are being advanced in favor of Cl. Beltrão da Rosa and M. Eichler’s apprehension of the ‘De rerum natura’ as a poem in the genre of physical theology stricto sensu. Cf. Varr. De Rer. Div. Fr. 8, 2–5 Cardauns.