Tityrus and Galatea (Virgil, Eclogue 1): An Expected Relationship

Tityrus and Galatea are found together only in Virgil, Eclogue 1. The article argues that they form a ‘significant’ pair of pastoral names, suggesting ‘cheese’ and ‘milk’. It provides evidence from Theocritus, where ‘milky’ Galatea is inserted in the semantic field of ‘milk and cheese’; Lucian, where Galatea forms a pair with the proper name Tyro; and the Alexander Romance, where Satyros is etymologized from ‘tyros’ (‘cheese’), in light of the fact that Virgil’s ‘Tityrus’ indicates a species of satyr. The article treats also proper name versions of ‘milk and cheese’ in the Aeneid. It is concluded with a discussion of the name ‘Tityros’ found in Nikos Kazantzakis’ autobiography entitled Report to Greco and in his novel KapetánMichális (Freedomor Death).