Catullus's The written piece In the middle of the first century, a collection of 113 poems was produced in Latin and divided into three divisions depending on different meters. They include: carmina (songs), canzoni (canons), and hendecasyllables (11-syllable lines). Although some of these poems may have been sung to music, their purpose was mostly poetic. In the early 20th century, these poems were often called "the Bible of love" because they described many facets of romantic passion between poets and patrons. Today, they are known for their elegance and simplicity. These qualities make them ideal reading material for students who have reached an advanced level in grammar and syntax but still want to improve their vocabulary and understanding of meter. Carmina connotes any collection of poetry, but here it refers specifically to poems in Latin. Thus, Catullus's carmina are the most important factor in determining the nature of this anthology. It contains poems by various authors from different periods, some as early as 5 BCE and as late as 51 CE. However, since most of the poems belong to the era following Catullus, about 18 years later, they provide evidence of the popular culture of the time. This includes myths, legends, and stories told through poetry.