Huc ades adspiraque mihi (Tib. 2, 1, 35): la presunta divinizzazione di Messalla nell'Ambarvaliengedicht

Abstract

In Tibullus' so-called Ambarvaliengedicht (2, 1) the invocation to Messalla has been often misunderstood as an attempt to deify the poet's patron. As a matter of fact, the 'toast' bene Messallam (31) is the formula pronounced during a libation (27-30) which was an integral part of the festival ritual. During the banquet in which the flesh of the sacrificial victim was consumed, a libation was offered to Messalla's genius: this implies that Messalla was considered a human being in need of protection, not a god. Therefore huc ades (35) does not invoke the epiphany of a god, but the participation of a human being to the ceremony. Similarly, in 1, 7, 49 the same formula huc ades, an invitation to participate to a libation for Messalla's genius, is addressed not to Osiris, as has often been stated, but to Messalla itself. According to C.D. 51, 19, 7, in 30 BC a senatus consultum prescribed a libation to Augustus' genius be offered at every banquet, both public and private. An example of this practice in a rustic festival is in Horace (carm. 4, 5, 29-36). Therefore it is very striking that in Tibullus' rustic festival the libation is offered to the genius of Messalla rather than to that of Augustus.