Gaius Licinius Macer Calvus

Gaius Licinius Macer Calvus was a distinguished orator and poet of ancient Rome, born in the year eighty-two before Christ. As a member of the gens Licinia, he was the son of Licinius Macer and forged a close friendship with the renowned poet Catullus, sharing similar stylistic and thematic elements in their works.

Calvus was known for his oratorical prowess, favoring a simpler Attic style over the more elaborate 'Asian' school. He famously critiqued Cicero's style, describing it as 'solutum et enervem'—loose and nerveless—while Cicero, in turn, labeled Calvus as 'exsanguem et aridum,' meaning bloodless and dry. Despite their stylistic differences, there was mutual respect, and Cicero praised Calvus's abilities.

His contributions to rhetoric are noted by Tacitus, who mentions twenty-one of Calvus's speeches, including several against Publius Vatinius. Calvus likely prosecuted Vatinius multiple times, notably in fifty-eight BC and again in fifty-four BC, where Cicero defended Vatinius. One of these trials is immortalized in Catullus's poem fifty-three, which humorously recounts a bystander's quip that elicited laughter from Catullus.

Seneca the Elder provides insight into Calvus's physical stature, noting his short height and recounting a story where Calvus requested a platform to better defend his client, Asinius Pollio. This anecdote highlights the challenges he faced in the courtroom, where his eloquence was sometimes met with skepticism, as illustrated by a defendant's complaint about being judged solely on Calvus's speaking skills.

Calvus's friendship with Catullus is well-documented, with several poems addressed to him, including one that describes a delightful afternoon spent exchanging verses. His legacy continues to be studied, with fragments of his work published by Frédéric Plessis in eighteen ninety-six.