Meliboeus: This young shepherd is one of the people affected negatively by land reform in the age of Augustus. In Eclogue 1, he complains to his older counterpart about his woes. He must abandon his livelihood because of this redistribution, and I would honestly not be happy about that either. His anxiety about the future separates him from Tityrus, and by the end, Meliboeus seems to be fed up with the other’s laissez-faire behavior. After receiving an offer to stay over at Tityrus’, we don’t know whether or not Meliboeus accepts.
Etymology: Meliboea is the name of a town in Thessaly, which happened to be the birthplace of Philoctetes. Servius tells us that Meliboeus is short for “μέλει αυτο̂ι το̂ν βοο̂ν” or he has care of the cattle, which is odd because Meliboeus is primarily a goat herd. Fun fact: Meliboeus is also the name for the genus for jewel beetles. Neat! An anglicized version of the name was used in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
Idylls: We do not see Meliboeus in Theocritus’ work or any Greek pastoral poetry even though it is a name with Greek origins.
Other Eclogues: However, we do find the shepherd again in Eclogue 3, mentioned briefly, and in Eclogue 7 as the narrator.
Tityrus: Tityrus is an old cowherd that has recently come into good fortune. He has gained freedom from servitude and has been allowed to keep his land. I think sitting against a tree playing music sounds like a great way to celebrate. His ever-grateful tone throughout the first Eclogue is a direct contrast to the worried one of Meliboeus. All of the misfortunes that he speaks of are in the past, and Tityrus happily looks forward to the leisure of the future.
Etymology: His name most likely comes from the Greek Τίτυρος possibly meaning “he-goat” or “reed/pipe.” In Theocritus, Τίτυρος has been synonymous with Silenus and the satyrs. Later on in the Medieval period, tityrus was used to name a sheep-like beast similar to the satyr.
Idylls: Tityrus has made an appearance before as a more subordinate herdsman in the Idylls 3.2-4, and is mentioned again in 7.74 as a singer.
Eclogues: In Vergil, he is mentioned three more times outside Eclogue 1 as one who is receiving orders (3.20 & 96, 5.12, 9.23). This also ties in to his former role as a slave in the first poem.
Amaryllis: As Tityrus’ current lover, Amaryllis is the muse of his current musical habits. She is notably called beautiful by Meliboeus in the first couple lines, and it seems that the love is reciprocated as Meliboeus mentions later that she was mournful when Tityrus was gone.
Etymology: Coming from the Greek word αμαρύσσειν meaning “to sparkle,” the name Amaryllis is still present today. However, anyone named that now is most likely named after the flower. Even a minor planet was named 1085 Amaryllis.
Idylls: Theocritus uses this name as well in Idylls 4.36 and the entirety of Idylls 3 as a girl refusing a man’s pursuits.
Eclogues: Amaryllis is also a popular name for Vergil because he uses it again in 2.14, 3.81, and 9.22. In Eclogues 2 and 3, her name is quickly followed by the word ira, indicating that she was not to be desired. Again, in Eclogue 8.77 she is mentioned as the sorceress’ attendant.
Deus (Augustus): Although not named, I wanted to mention the importance of Augustus (Octavian at the time) being referred to as a god by Tityrus after the former had granted him freedom and land. The willingness of Tityrus to abandon the immortal gods for a mortal one is perhaps an indication of Vergil’s feelings forwards the new political environment.
Libertas: She is a Roman goddess and, similar to the role of Cupid, is also the personification of Liberty. It sounds like Tityrus is referring to the abstract concept here instead of talking about her intercession.
Galatea: The ex-lover of Tityrus does not receive a favourable characterization. When Tityrus was dating her, he felt even more like a slave than he already was with “no hope of freedom…and no concern of saving money.”
Etymology: In Greek, Galatea means “she who is milk white.” Perhaps the most popular name of the bunch, Galatea’s most famous role, as Pygmalion’s statue in Greek mythology, earned her several renditions in art, science and music. For example, Galatea is also a moon that orbits Neptune.
Idylls: In Greek pastoral poetry, Galatea was present as a sea nymph in Idylls 6.10-11 and11.13-14. Ovid uses this version of her as well in his Metamorphoses as the romantic counterpart of Acis and the object of affection for Polyphemus the cyclops.
Eclogues: In Vergil Galatea appears again twice as a sea nymph in 7.37 and 9.39, pictured as a seemingly unattainable romance.
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