Latin literary translation in the late Roman Republic

Translation has been a part of Latin literature since its beginning with the Odusia of Livius Andronicus. Throughout the late Roman Republic literary translators – those translators who aim at creating innovative pieces of literature rather than following their source texts verbatim – develop their art and a variety of techniques for appropriating Greek poetry. This study shows that each Latin literary translator draws on their predecessors and finds unique solutions to their individual problems. It demonstrates that each translator also adapts their source texts in different ways according to their periods, genres, styles, and purposes. It looks at the ancient terminology, theory, and practice of translation and shows that, while there is no consistent vocabulary or system of translation in Rome, literary translation is nevertheless highly-developed and subtle throughout the Republic. It examines the translations of the Preneoteric translators Quintus Lutatius Catulus and Gnaeus Matius, Cicero and Varro Atacinus, and Catullus