Sextus Propertius
Born ca. 47 BC · Died 15 BC
From Assisi, Umbria, Italy · Nationality: Ancient Rome
Very little information is known about Propertius outside of his own writing. His praenomen "Sextus" is mentioned by Aelius Donatus, a few manuscripts list him as "Sextus Propertius", but the rest of his name is unknown. From numerous references in his poetry it is clear he was born and raised in Umbria; modern Assisi claims for itself the honor of his birthplace. As a boy his father died and the family lost land as part of a confiscation, probably the same one which reduced Virgil's estates when Octavian alloted lands to his veterans in 41 BC. Combining this with cryptic references in Ovid implying he was younger than his contemporary Tibullus, a birthdate in the early 40s seems appropriate.
After his father's death, Propertius' mother set him on course for a public career--indicating his family still had some wealth—while the abundance of obscure mythology present in his poetry indicates he received a good education. Frequent mention of friends like Tullus--the nephew of Lucius Volcatius Tullus, consul in 33 BCE—plus the fact that he lived on Rome's Esquiline hill indicate he moved among the children of the rich and politically connected during the early part of the 20's decade. It was during this time that he met Cynthia, the older woman who would inspire him to express his poetic genius.
Propertius published a first book of love elegies in 25 BC, with Cynthia herself as the main theme; the book's complete devotion gave it the natural title Cynthia Monobiblos.
Books by Sextus Propertius in order
Books by Sextus Propertius in the order they were published, from Propertius (1780) to Elegias de Sexto Propércio (2014).
- 1Propertius
Propertius1780 - 2Sex. Aurelii Propertii Elegiarum Libri Quattuor
Sex. Aurelii Propertii Elegiarum Libri Quattuor1845 - 3Sex. Propertii Elegianum Libri IV
Sex. Propertii Elegianum Libri IV1880 - 4Sex. Propertii Elegiarum Libri IV
Sex. Propertii Elegiarum Libri IV1880 - 5Cynthia
Cynthia1899 - 6Sexti Propertii Elegiae
Sexti Propertii Elegiae1908 - 7Codex Guelferbytanus Gudianus 224 Olim Neapolitanus, PhototyCodex Guelferbytanus Gudianus 224 Olim Neapolitanus, Phototypice Editus1911
- 8[Elegies][Elegies]1912
- 9Carmina
Carmina1954 - 10Propertius: Elegies
Propertius: Elegies1961 - 11The Poems of Sextus Propertius
The Poems of Sextus Propertius1961 - 12Elegies Bk 3 CampsElegies Bk 3 Camps1966
- 13The Poems of PropertiusThe Poems of Propertius1966
- 14Elegies Bk 2 CampsElegies Bk 2 Camps1967
- 15The "Monobiblios" [I.e. "Monobiblos"] of Propertius
The "Monobiblios" [I.e. "Monobiblos"] of Propertius1977 - 16Elegias
Elegias1993 - 17Charm
Charm1995 - 18The Poems
The Poems1996 - 19Elegiarum Libri IV
Elegiarum Libri IV1998 - 20El Libro Primero de ElegiasEl Libro Primero de Elegias2000
- 21Elegias CompletasElegias Completas2000
- 22The Complete Elegies of Sextus Propertius
The Complete Elegies of Sextus Propertius2004 - 23ElegieElegie2005
- 24Elegias de Sexto Propércio
Elegias de Sexto Propércio2014