I don't think there is any rhyme or reason why we use the nomen for some authors and the cognomen for others. We don't, for instance, call Ovid "Naso." We don't call Horace "Flaccus." And we could find any number of other instances in which this use of nomen rather than cognomen is our preferred way of naming Roman people. Finding a reason for such things is usually not possible since the development of language is not a rational process.
In the case of Vergil, it seems clear (assuming we identify the person named as the poet) that Horace in Odes I.3 calls Vergil "Vergil." So perhaps it is as simple a thing as what people called these writers in ancient times. I doubt that the Romans consistently called all people by one name or the other. As for the English "Tully" thing, my guess is that it comes out of a fondness for Cicero's letters, and from the fact that Cicero himself says to himself "Quid agis, marce tulli?" An interesting subject about which I know little. But I'd like to hear more authoritative thoughts from others. Stuart Wheeler >This one isn't quite so obscure. I believe that the "i" spelling came to >be in >the 5th century AD (http://www.bartleby.com/65/ve/Vergil.html), when the >Aeneid >was used as a sort of magic 8-ball. People would randomly open the Aeneid and >interpret the first line upon which their eyes fell. The connection here is >with the "virga" or wand, which was somehow used in this practice. Also, it >was a symbol of the magician. In my opinion, the "e" is preferrable, being >that it is closer to his actual name. For a better explaination, see Pharr's >books 1-6 of the Aeneid, Introduction. > >The interesting question, which Emma posed, is why we don't use his cognomen. > >Sam Cole >Sophomore, Classics, Reed College >----------------------------------------------------------------------- >To leave the Mantovano mailing list at any time, do NOT hit reply. >Instead, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message >"unsubscribe mantovano" in the body (omitting the quotation marks). You >can also unsubscribe at http://virgil.org/mantovano/mantovano.htm#unsub "The gate of Paradise is guarded by the highest Spirit of Reason, who bars the way until he has been overcome." Nicholas of Cusa ----------------------------------------------------------------------- To leave the Mantovano mailing list at any time, do NOT hit reply. Instead, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message "unsubscribe mantovano" in the body (omitting the quotation marks). You can also unsubscribe at http://virgil.org/mantovano/mantovano.htm#unsub
