Patruae Verbera Linguae and the Ius Osculi in Horace, Carm. 3.12

Carm. 3.12.3 contains the expression patruae verbera linguae, which has always been translated as “the lashing of an uncle’s tongue.” Though proverbially referring to the verbal scourging of the paternal uncle, the topical Roman disciplinarian, these verbera linguae can in fact also allude to the archaic practice of the ius osculi. The enforcing of this obsolete custom does not appear realistic, but, by alluding to it, Horace took a chance to explore the gender dynamics between male and female realms while simultaneously conjuring up the very Augustan preoccupation for righteous mores.