Battus appears in Theocritus as a goatherd engaged in banter and song, his character providing comic elements and realistic rural dialogue; the name may suggest stammering or country speech. The character represents the less refined aspects of pastoral life, his presence acknowledging that shepherds could be rough, humorous, and concerned with practical matters. Battus enriches the pastoral tradition by preventing excessive idealization, his earthiness balancing the genre's tendency toward refined sentiment and ethereal beauty.

Battus appears in Theocritus as a sometimes foolish or talkative goatherd, providing comic relief and representing less refined aspects of rural life. Unlike idealized shepherds who speak eloquently, Battus embodies rustic simplicity that verges on stupidity or garrulousness. Poets use this character when introducing humor, depicting class distinctions among shepherds, or showing the rougher edges of pastoral existence. Battus demonstrates that pastoral poetry includes social hierarchy and comic elements, not just refined singing and noble sentiment. The character helps students understand that bucolic verse encompasses a range of tones and characterizations, from elevated to earthy.