# Catullus — The Tour character guide > Catullus in The Tour by Louis Couperus. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Uncle Catullus, fat Uncle Catullus, my noble Lord Catullus **First appearance:** 0001-the-tour ## Snapshot A portly, sardonic Roman uncle with a taste for fine cooking, who punctures the family's romantic pieties with dry, self-aware wit. ## Who they are Uncle Catullus is the impoverished relation who knows better than to hang round the rich, yet travels at his nephew's expense and hoards gold pieces that slip through Lucius's fingers. He refuses to see Ilia as a goddess, insists her ankles were thick, and suspects she simply bolted — a heresy against the household's worship. His comic realism and his tearful farewell at the voyage's start give the tour its rueful, human undertone. ## Relationships ### [Publius Lucius Sabinus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/publius_lucius_sabinus) _rivalry_ Catullus openly despises Publius Lucius Sabinus, viewing him as a corrupt and dangerous adversary. ### [Cora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/cora) _friendship_ Catullus acts as a protective older brother figure to Cora, guiding her through dangerous political waters. ### [Thrasyllus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/thrasyllus) _rivalry_ Catullus and Thrasyllus clash frequently due to their opposing loyalties and volatile tempers. ### [Caleb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/caleb) _friendship_ Caleb and Catullus are steadfast friends, often working together to expose corruption. ### [Ilia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/ilia) _romantic_ Catullus and Ilia share a passionate but secret romance, complicated by their families' feud. ### [Tarrar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/tarrar) _rivalry_ Catullus and Tarrar are sworn enemies, with Tarrar often acting as a physical threat to Catullus's life. ### [Publius Lucius Sabinus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/publius_lucius_sabinus) _rivalry_ Catullus openly despises Publius Lucius Sabinus, viewing him as a corrupt and dangerous adversary. ### [Cora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/cora) _friendship_ Catullus acts as a protective older brother figure to Cora, guiding her through dangerous political waters. ### [Thrasyllus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/thrasyllus) _rivalry_ Catullus and Thrasyllus clash frequently due to their opposing loyalties and volatile tempers. ### [Publius Lucius Sabinus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/publius_lucius_sabinus) _rivalry_ Catullus openly despises Publius Lucius Sabinus, viewing him as a corrupt and dangerous adversary. ### [Caleb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/caleb) _friendship_ Caleb and Catullus are steadfast friends, often working together to expose corruption. ### [Thrasyllus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/thrasyllus) _rivalry_ Catullus and Thrasyllus clash frequently due to their opposing loyalties and volatile tempers. ## In the story ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/ii) Catullus, Lucius's penniless uncle, sleeps on deck, complains about his poverty and the monotony of Roman food, and cynically discusses Ilia's infidelity. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/iii) Lucius's uncle, a jovial and portly man who accompanies him to Alexandria. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/iv) Bargains for embroideries from Tyre and Nineveh at Lucius's request. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/vi) Uncle Catullus keeps out of Lucius's way and whispers with the traveling merchants about Lucius's sorrow. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/vii) Grumbles about the sudden change of plans and his overindulgence, but agrees to join the festival. ### [The Festival of Serapis at Canopus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/viii) Lucius's corpulent uncle, accompanying him and praising Thrasyllus's knowledge. ### [The Festival of Serapis at Canopus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/ix) Walks beside Lucius in the procession to the temple of Serapis. ### [The Dream at Canopus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/x) Uncle Catullus complains of a nightmare and indigestion, dismissing the spiritual experience. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xi) Uncle Catullus abandons himself to long siestas during the rains. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xiii) Jests with Caleb about the quality of Ethiopian liqueurs during the planning. ### [The Night of Isis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xiv) Uncle Catullus retires to his cabin during the Feast of Isis. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xv) Uncle Catullus makes a wry comment about the priest's father's farm being the source of both Apis and his mother, showing his skeptical humor. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xvi) Uncle Catullus enjoys the simple meal and rests under a fly-net during the midday heat. ### [The Black Pyramid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xvii) Skeptically comments on the sandal as a tourist attraction. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xviii) Overwhelmed by the impressions of Egypt; expresses fear and discomfort, preferring to retreat to his camel. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xx) Remains on the barge at Memphis, bored and complaining to Cora about being left behind. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xxiv) Uncle Catullus expresses fatigue with sacred animals and strange foods, and considers taking a separate route via the Berenice Canal. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xxv) Uncle Catullus remains on the thalamegus with Rufus, traveling separately to Berenice. ### [Cape Dire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xxvii) Weeps and struggles to deliver the news of Lucius's confiscation. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xxix) Remains on the quadrireme, tearfully bids farewell to Lucius, Thrasyllus, and Cora, planning to retire in Alexandria. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/catullus - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters