Sources and reception of catull. 3 as means of defining the text's mood

It is very important to understand the mood of the lyrical text for its correct interpretation. The aim of this article is to define the mood of Catullus’ carm. 3. Scholars often describe it as humorous and even derisive. To define the mood of the text the author examines external factors affecting carm. 3. The text is written in the ancient tradition reflected in the poems on the death of animals. Hellenistic epitaphs to pets are analyzed as sources. In scientific literature these epitaphs are divided into three groups: sentimental, mockery and “pointierte” epitaphs. The author concludes that Catullus’ poem on the death of the deceased has common features with Hellenistic sentimental epitaphs. The perception of carm. 3 in Latin literature is examined on the example of Ovidius’s lamentation for Corinna’s dead parrot (Am. II, 6), Martialis’ epigrams and an inscription in memory of the dog Myia (CEL 1512). The analysis of these materials allows the author to argue against assertion that carm. 3 is parodic and ironic by nature. The author comes to a conclusion that Catullus carries on a tradition of Hellenistic sentimental epitaphs on the death of pets, and his poem was understood this way by ancient readers.