Catullus Gaius Valerius (84?–54 B.C.), a Roman poet most famous for his elegiac and lyric poetry. His principal work is a cycle of love poems, To Lesbia. His pain at the loss of his brother inspired his elegy Farewell. Catullus was strongly influenced by Greek poets and poets of the Alexandrian school. He was born in Verona of a wealthy family and went to Rome at the age of 20. In 57 B.C. Catullus was appointed an aide to the governor of the province of Bithynia in Asia Minor. Within a year, bored by provincial life, he returned to Italy.