M/M: United in Death: Carpos & Calamos

Carpus and Calamus

Name: Servius Date: 4th – 5th century CE Region: [modern Italy] Citation:   Commentary on the Eclogues, 5.48

The story of Calamus is as follows: ancient authors say that the wind Zephyr married one of the Hours, and together they had a very handsome son named Carpus. Calamus, the son of the river god Meander, fell in love with him, and they loved each other intensely. However, when Carpus fell into the Meander river and drowned, Calamus was horrified by his father’s deed and ran away. He begged Jupiter to end his grief and let him die as well, so that he could join his sweetheart in death. Moved to pity, Jupiter ordered Calamus to be transformed into a reed, which is accustomed to bloom around riverbanks. Then he transformed Carpus into the fruit of all things, so he could always be reborn.

Carpus and Calamus

Fabula de Calamo talis est: veteres Zephyro vento unam ex horis coniugem adsignant, ex qua et Zephyro Carpon filium pulcherrimi corporis editum dicunt. Quem cum Calamus, Maeandri fluvii filius, amaret, a Carpo mutua vice etiam ipse adamatus est. Sed Carpos cum in Maeandrum fluvium cadens esset extinctus, Calamus, patrem propter hoc scelus aversatus, aufugit rogavitque Jovem, ut finem suis luctibus daret sibique mortem praestaret, ut amato post obitum iungeretur. Quem miseratione Juppiter ductus in harundinales calamos verti iussit, qui semper circa oras fluminum nasci solent, Carpon vero in fructus rerum omnium vertit, ut semper renasceretur.

Servius [Maurus Servius Honoratus; 4th – 5th century CE] Servius’ name is unfortunately the only thing we know of this author. Little is known about the author or manuscript tradition for the grammatical commentary of Vergil’s Aeneid.