Why did the Neoteric poets admire Alexandrian Greek poetry?

The Neoteric poets, or neoteroi, admired Alexandrian Greek poetry because they sought to move away from the traditional, grandiose, and didactic-patriotic style of Latin literature, often associated with the Ennian tradition.12

Instead, they embraced the aesthetic of "art for art’s sake," prioritizing personal expression, entertainment, and meticulous literary craftsmanship. They were particularly drawn to the sophisticated and erudite models of 3rd-century Alexandrian poets, most notably Callimachus, who championed concise, polished, and miniaturistic forms such as the epyllion (brief epic), elegy, and epigram.123

By emulating these Greek models, the Neoterics—including Catullus—rejected the "gravity" and excessive alliteration of earlier Roman epics in favor of refined, elegant, and technically sophisticated verse. This shift introduced a new focus on euphony, artistic structure, and the subtle, allusive quality of poetry that became a hallmark of their movement.12