The Pervigilium Veneris: a new critical text, translation and commentary

The Pervigilium Veneris (Vigil of Venus) is a Late Antique Latin poem of unknown date and authorship.

The poem exists in four heavily corrupted manuscripts as part of the Anthologia Latina, a collection of later Latin poetry complied around the 6th century A.D.

Considerable attention has been paid to the piece since its discovery in the early 16th century largely on account of its singularity, mysterious origins and enigmatic final stanza.

Despite this scholarly interest, much work remains to be done in order to arrive at a more solid text of the poem and a more complete understanding of its meaning.

This study provides a critical edition of the Pervigilium Veneris with a new text, translation and commentary.