17.04.27: Level 1: First Latin Lessons (13); 2nd declension; -um

I: Tēctum in magnō oppidō habeō, sed oppidum nōn amō. Māter mea casam in silvā habet, et aestāte in casā habitō. Soror mea quoque in casā aestāte habitat.

II: Tēctum tuum in oppidō saepe videō. Tēctum magnum est sed nōn pulchrum. Casa in silvā est pulchra.

III: Poēta magnum tabernāculum in īnsulā habet. Ex casā nostrā tabernāculum poētae vidēmus. Poēta est amīcus agricolae. Tēctum agricolae quoque in īnsulā est. Agricolam et poētam saepe vidēmus cum⁠ in īnsulā sumus.

IV: Oppida patriae nostrae laudās. Soror tua oppida Italiae saepe laudat, sed in oppidīs Italiae nōn diū manet. Nunc in parvō oppidō Hispāniae est. Multa oppida Hispāniae et Italiae sunt pulchra.

V: Quid⁠ māter tua tibi dat? Māter mea mihi praemium dat, quod ex viā properō. Soror mea quoque praemium habet, quod impigra est.

VI: Magnum oppidum nōn laudās. Oppida Italiae saepe laudāmus. Tabernāculum in silvā videō. Cornēlia mihi magnum praemium dat. Soror mea in oppidō aestāte nōn manet.

(1) vocabulary

• oppidum, -ī [2/n]: town
• praemium, -ī [2/n]: reward
• tabernāculum, -ī [2/n]: cottage; tent
• tēctum, -ī [2/n]: house
• habitō, -āre [1]: live
• habeō: I have
• manet: (s)he / it remains
• aestāte: in summer
• quid?: what?

Image #1

[i] 2^nd declension nouns ending in -um in the nominative case are neuter.

The vocabulary lists these nouns as follows:

oppidum, -ī [2/n]: town

nominative singular: -um

genitive singular: -ī; remember that it is the genitive singular that indicates the declension

• praemium, -ī [2/n]: reward
• tabernāculum, -ī [2/n]: tent
• tēctum, -ī [2/n]: house

[ii] declension

Singular

Nominative: -um

• Ubi est oppidum? | Where is the town?

Genitive: -ī

• Incolae oppidī Rōmānī sunt. | The town’s inhabitants / the inhabitants of the town are Roman.

Dative: -ō

• Rēx oppidō pecūniam dat. | The king gives money to the town.

Accusative: -um

• Oppidum videō. | I see a / the town.

Ablative: -ō

Claudius in oppidō habitat. | Claudius lives in a / the town.

Plural

Nominative: -a

• Suntne oppida in Italiā? | Are there towns in Italy?

Genitive: -ōrum

• Incolae oppidōrum Rōmānī sunt. | The towns’  inhabitants / the inhabitants of the towns are Roman.

Dative: -īs

• Rēx oppidīs pecūniam dat. | The king gives money to the towns.

Accusative: -a

• Oppida vidēmus. | We see (the) towns.

Ablative: -īs

• Agricolae in oppidīs nōn habitant. | The farmers do not live in (the) towns.

[iii] Neuter nouns have the same endings for:

(1) the nominative and accusative singular [-um]

Nominative singular: Tēctum in īnsulā est. | The house is on an island.

Accusative singular: Tēctum habeō. | I have a house.

(2) the nominative and accusative plural [-a]

• Nominative plural: Oppida pulchra sunt. | The towns are beautiful.
• Accusative plural: Oppida vidēmus. | We see the towns.

(3) the dative and ablative singular [-ō]

• Dative singular: Rēx oppidō pecūniam dat. | The king gives money to the town.
• Ablative singular: In oppidō habitō. | I live in a town.

(4) the dative and ablative plural [-īs]

• Dative plural: Rēx oppidīs pecūniam dat. | The king gives money to the towns.
• Ablative plural: In oppidīs habitāmus. | We live in towns.

[iv] 2nd declension nouns ending in -ium may form the genitive singular in -iī or -ī, e.g. aedificium (building) > aedificiī or aedificī.

[v] 1^st / 2^nd declension neuter adjectives have the same endings:

magnum oppidum | a large town

in magnō oppidō | in a large town

multa oppida | many towns

____________________

I: I have a house in a large town, but I do not like the town. My mother has a cottage in a forest, and in summer I live in the cottage. My sister also lives in the cottage in summer.

II: I often see your house in the town. The house is large, but it is not beautiful. The cottage in the forest is beautiful.

III: The poet has a large tent on an island. From our cottage we see the poet's tent. The poet is the farmer's friend. The farmer's house is also on the island. We often see the farmer and the poet when we are on the island.

IV: You praise the towns of our country. Your sister often praises the towns of Italy, but she does not stay long in the towns of Italy. Now she is in a small town in Spain. Many towns in Spain and Italy are beautiful.

V: What does your mother give you? My mother gives me a reward because I hurry from the road. My sister also has a reward because she is hardworking.

VI: You do not praise the large town. We often praise the towns of Italy. I see a tent in the forest. Cornelia gives me a large reward. My sister does not stay in the town in summer.

16.04.27: Topic / Level 4; transport [7]: wheeled vehicles (7) raeda; Cicero and the defence of Milo [ii]

The following excerpt comes much later in Cicero’s speech, and invites the jury to picture the event and decide which description naturally fits an assassin. The focus is entirely on the visual.

Rēs loquitur ipsa, iūdicēs, quae semper valet plūrimum. Sī haec nōn gesta audīrētis, sed picta vidērētis, tamen appārēret uter esset īnsidiātor, uter nihil malī cōgitāret, cum alter veherētur in raedā paenulātus, ūna sedēret uxor. Quid hōrum nōn impedītissimum? vestītus an vehiculum an comes? quid minus prōmptum ad pugnam, cum paenulā inretitus, raedā impedītus, uxōre paene cōnstrictus esset?

The facts themselves speak, gentlemen of the jury, and they always carry the greatest weight. If you were not to hear these actions, but to see them depicted in a picture, it would nevertheless be clear which of the two was the ambusher and which was harbouring no evil intention, when one was being conveyed in a carriage, clad in a travelling cloak, with his wife sitting beside him. Which of these circumstances was not a very great hindrance? His clothing, his vehicle, his companion? What could have been less suited to a fight, when he was entangled in his cloak, impeded by his carriage, and almost bound fast by his wife?

Note:

[1] juxtaposition, placing two opposing ideas side-by-side, again creating the powerful antithesis evident in the first excerpt:

uter esset īnsidiātor, uter nihil malī cōgitāret

[2] rhetorical questions

Rhetorical questions do not invite answers since they are already obvious in context; rather, they are designed to persuade the jury mentally to reach their own conclusions.

Quid hōrum nōn impedītissimum?

vestītus an vehiculum an comes?

quid minus prōmptum ad pugnam, cum paenulā inretitus, raedā impedītus, uxōre paene cōnstrictus esset?

[3] Cicero’s use of the tricolon:

(1) vestītus (2) an vehiculum (3) an comes?

cum (1) paenulā inretitus, (2) raedā impedītus, (3) uxōre paene cōnstrictus esset

It could be argued that Cicero is using a tactic which, in our contemporary terms, is described as ‘anchoring’. The word is particularly associated with advertising and encourages consumers to focus on one striking feature of a product. Here, Cicero focuses on how the events look and on the circumstances pertaining to a specific part of the case to the exclusion of other factors that may be pertinent and not in his favour.

15.04.27: Topic / Level 4; transport [6]: wheeled vehicles (6) raeda; Cicero and the defence of Milo [i]

raeda, -ae [1/f] or rēda, -ae  [1/f]: a four-wheel wagon or coach used for long-distance travelling and / or carrying baggage

raedārius, -ī [2/m]: coachman; carriage driver

sed dum tōta domūs raeda compōnitur ūna / substitit ad veterēs arcūs (Juvenal)

• But while his whole household is being packed into a single carriage, he lingered at the ancient arches... 

Cicero and the defence of Milo

One of the tactics of a lawyer is to challenge the opposing case by introducing an element of scepticism, encouraging the jury to doubt whether the accusation has been proved or, in this case, is even logical given the circumstances.

In 52 BC, Milo was put on trial for killing his political enemy Clodius after a violent confrontation on the Via Appia. That Clodius had been killed by Milo's party was not really in dispute; the key question was whether the killing was justified. In his speech Pro Milone, Cicero argued that Clodius had planned an ambush and was the aggressor, while Milo had simply been travelling with his wife and attendants when the attack occurred. Cicero, therefore, claimed that Milo had acted in self-defence and that the killing was a legitimate response to a deadly threat.

As part of Cicero’s defence of Milo, he compares the readiness of both parties to engage in violence. He does this by means of carefully constructed antithesis. We will consider both statements:

[A] CLODIUS

Obviam fit eī Clōdius, (1) expedītus, (2) in equō, (3) nūllā raedā, nūllīs impedīmentīs, nūllīs Graecīs comitibus, (4) ut solēbat, sine uxōre, quod numquam ferē:

• Clodius meets him coming the other way, lightly equipped, on horseback, with no carriage, no baggage, no Greek attendants as he usually had, and without his wife, which was something he hardly ever did.

Notes:

(1) expeditus: lightly equipped, but does not suggest unarmed

(2) in equō: Clodius is on horseback i.e. unlike Milo, he could move quickly

(3) Cicero’s use of the tricolon (nūllā … nūllis … nūllīs…) to reinforce that Clodius was travelling unusually light

(4) ut solebat / sine uxōre quod numquam ferē; Cicero observes that the manner of Clodius’ appearance is out of character. Moreover, that his wife was absent might suggest that Clodius wished to avoid her witnessing a murder.

[B] MILO

cum hic (1) īnsidiātor, quī iter illud ad caedem faciendam (2) apparāsset, (3) cum uxōre veherētur in raedā, (4) paenulātus, magnō et impeditō et muliebrī ac dēlicātō ancillārum puerōrumque comitātū.

• While this ‘ambusher’, who had (supposedly) prepared that journey for the purpose of carrying out a killing, was being conveyed in a carriage with his wife, clad in a travelling cloak, with a large and cumbersome and womanish and delicate retinue of maidservants and boys.

Notes:

(1) Given Milo’s location in the carriage and its physical constraints, the term īnsidiātor is used sarcastically. He goes on to justify that sarcasm.

(2) cum … apparāsset: the use of the pluperfect subjunctive conveys what the prosecution has claimed; the translation of “supposedly had” neatly communicates scepticism

(3) [1] cum uxōre [2] veherētur [3] in raedā

[1] cum uxōre: Milo was with his wife, whereas Clodius was (unusually) not; the contrast of sine uxōre in [A] and cum uxōre in [B] could imply that Milo was unaware of what was to happen. 

[2] veherētur: it is appropriate to retain the passive meaning of the verb i.e. Milo was not involved in controlling the carriage; this could also contrast with obviam fit eī Clōdius, which presents Clodius as the one who comes to meet Milo, perhaps implying that it was Clodius who initiated the encounter.

[3] in raedā: Milo was in a carriage, whereas Clodius was on a horse

(4) Cicero emphasises that Milo was in no position to instigate any act:

[1] paenulātus: Milo is not dressed in a manner that would allow rapid movement

paenula, -ae [1/f]: a thick, sleeveless travelling cloak

“It was chiefly worn by people of low rank and slaves, but also by the higher classes, … in bad weather, on a journey, and in the country.” (Thurston Peck)

The image shows a statuette of a figure wearing a paenula (British Museum). In other words, if this is the type of apparel Milo was wearing, he hardly looked like a man who had set out prepared to commit a murder!

[2] [i] magnō et impeditō [ii] et muliebrī ac dēlicātō ancillārum puerōrumque comitātū

Cicero conveys two ideas in this heavily loaded statement, presenting the jury with an image of comfort and domesticity rather than a planned armed ambush:

[i] Milo’s retinue is large and cumbersome

Note the contrast between expeditus in [A] and impeditō in [B], the prefixes – both of which are stressed in pronunciation – changing the meaning.

[ii] Those around him are not the type who would be physically or emotionally capable of assisting him; while dēlicātus can translate as ‘luxurious’ it can equally mean ‘tender’ or ‘delicate’.

Note the use of comitibus in [A] and comitātū in [B], both referring to those who accompanied the travellers and reinforcing the contrast between the two parties.

14.04.27: Level 3 ACL/NJCL; 2016; Latin II (vi); Questions [30] – [40]; answers

30. A) haughty and caused miseries for the people

• The question is worded slightly differently from the answer but the key words are in the sentence: Plēbēs miseriās et labōrēs habēbant quod Tarquinius erat rēx superbissimus

31. B) more savage things

• comparative: ātrōciōra

32. C) shut out the king

• claudere portās Rōmae contrā rēgem;
• literally: shut the gates of Rome against the king

33. C) stir up the soldiers against the king

• contrā rēgem mīlitēs Ardeae incitāvērunt
• incitō, -āre [1]: incite; stir up

34. B) Tarquinius already had established him as commander of Rome

• quī anteā ¦ ā rēge [ablative of agent] ¦ praefectus Rōmae creātus erat
• creātus erat; pluperfect passive; literally: … who had been created (made / chosen as) commander of Rome ¦ by the king
• anteā: previously / before

35. D) was traveling

• iter faciō, -ere: travel

36. D) After these events were reported to the king

• Postquam haec ad rēgem relāta sunt
• postquam: after
• relāta sunt: perfect passive < referō, referre

37. B) put down the revolt

• rēs novās comprimere voluit
• rēs, -eī [5/f]: the noun can have many different meanings including the basic ‘thing’ or ‘object’, but also, for example, ‘event’, ‘matter’, ‘circumstances’. Context will determine the best choice. However, in this passage, rēs novae – literally ‘new circumstances’ – refers to revolt or revolution.
• comprimō, -ere [3]: repress; restrain

38. C) avoid facing Tarquinius

• obvius esse Tarquiniō nōluit
• obvius esse (+ dat.): while the vocabulary list gives the expression as ‘meet’, it can be associated with going to face somebody or a situation that is potentially negative

39. D) the gates were closed and exile was ordered

• … portae Tarquiniō clausae erant exsiliumque indictum est.
• clausus, -a, -um: perfect passive participle < claudō, -ere [3]

40. A) Brutus was praised by the happy citizens

• Brūtus … ā cīvibus laetīs ¦ laudātus est.
• perfect passive: laudātus est
• ablative of agent: ā civibus laetīs

13.04.27: Level 1-2 (review): Julia (a Latin Reader) [11] (3)

CȲRUS (3)

Māne igitur servī rogum ingentem parāvērunt et Croesum eō imposuērunt. Tum Croesus ubi calamitātem suam sēnsit, trīstī vultū gemitum ab īmō pectore dedit, et, Solōnis verbōrum memor, "Nōn falsa," inquit, "Solōn, vir sapiēns, dīxit. Ego mē omnium hominum beātissimum tot annōs putābam. Nunc autem nēmō per omnēs gentēs miserior est. Superbiae stultitiaeque poenās dō."

Cȳrus, ubi Croesī verba audīvit, et vultum trīstem animadvertit, misericordiae plēnus, "Et ego," inquit, "homō sum. Hodiē beātus sum, sed nōn semper fortasse rēs bene geram. Et ego fortasse veniam ā Dīs Immortālibus ōlīm petam. Captīvum igitur vinculīs flammīsque līberābō."

Sed iam servī facēs lūcidās ad trabēs porrēxerant; iam flammae rogum paene cingēbant. Croesus autem in summō perīculō manūs ad caelum Deōsque Immortālēs porrēxit. Apollō imbrem dē caelō serēnō mīsit, et aquam in rogum effūdit. Ita Cȳrus captīvum līberāvit, et multōs annōs Croesum cārum amīcum habēbat.

[i]

calamitās, -ātis [3/f]: calamity

fax, facis [3/f]: torch

pectus, -oris [3/n]: breast

superbia, -ae [1/f]: pride

vīnculum, -ī [2/n]: chain, fetter

[ii]

falsus, -a, -um: false

īmus, -a, -um: lowest

lūcidus, -a, -um: shining

memor, -oris: mindful

[iii]

animadvertō, -ere [3]: notice

cingō, -ere [3]: surround

effundō, -ere [3]: pour out

līberō, -āre [1]: set free

porrigō, -ere [3]: stretch out

[iv]

tot: so many

____________________

Accordingly, in the morning the slaves prepared a huge funeral pyre and placed Croesus upon it. Then, when Croesus realised his misfortune, he gave a groan from the depths of his heart with a sorrowful expression, and, remembering the words of Solon, said:

"Solon, a wise man, did not speak falsely. For so many years I thought myself the happiest of all men. But now no one among all nations is more wretched. I am paying the penalty for my pride and folly."

When Cyrus heard Croesus' words and noticed his sad expression, he was filled with pity.

"And I too," he said, "am a man. Today I am fortunate, but perhaps I shall not always prosper. I too may perhaps one day seek pardon from the Immortal Gods. Therefore I shall free the prisoner from his chains and from the flames."

But already the slaves had stretched blazing torches towards the timbers; already the flames were almost surrounding the pyre. Croesus, however, in the utmost danger, stretched his hands towards heaven and the Immortal Gods. Apollo sent rain from a clear sky and poured water upon the pyre. Thus Cyrus set the prisoner free, and for many years kept Croesus as a dear friend.

12.04.27: Level 1; step-by-step; scaffolding [10] grammar notes (2) cases; nominative

Key words:

case

nominative

predicative nominative

Too often, learners are faced with seemingly interminable tables of endings and grammatical rules which they need to memorise immediately.

While declensions and cases are of great importance in the study of Latin – and they cannot be avoided – it is better to acquire knowledge gradually with plenty of practice to ensure that each step is confidently and securely learnt.

A noun can perform different functions in a sentence. Look at the English examples below.

My friend works in London.

Did you see my friend?

This is my friend’s car.

I gave the money to my friend.

Are you going there with my friend?

You can see that the noun ’friend’ can, for example, be the subject of the sentence, the person doing the action (My friend works in London) or the person who is the object of the action (Did you see my friend?) or who owns something (my friend’s car). English is heavily reliant on word order and prepositions (to my friend; with my friend) to indicate the specific function of a noun in a sentence. Apart from ‘s in ‘my friend’s car’, the noun itself does not change.

The endings of Latin nouns do change depending on their function. The functions are called cases.

Nominative case: subject; predicate

The nominative case is used for nouns which are:

[1] the subject of the sentence, the person or thing performing the action contained in the verb, or the person / thing being described:

Amīcus meus Rōmae labōrat. | My friend works in Rome.

Quantī cōnstat hic gladius? | How much does this sword cost?

Iūlius est Rōmānus. |  Julius is a Roman.

[2] the predicate nominative of the sentence; this is most commonly found after the verb ‘to be’; est may be, as in English, between the subject and the predicate, for example:

Britannia [nominative] est īnsula [nominative]. |  Britannia is an island.

Amīcus meus est Rōmānus. |  My friend is a Roman.

Gladius est. | It’s a sword.

Mihi est vīnum. | I have wine [literally: to me (there) is wine].

11.04.27: Level 1; First Latin Lessons (12); verbs; 1st conjugation; present tense

I: Schola nostra est schola bona. Scholam nostram laudāmus et amāmus. Scholam laudātis, sed in scholā nōn bene labōrātis. Soror mea scholam laudat et in scholā bene labōrat. Soror mea est puella impigra.

II: Cūr hīc stātis? Hīc stāmus quod fīliam tuam exspectāmus. Ubi fīlia tua est? Fīlia mea nunc in scholā est.

III: Vesperī saepe in viīs ambulō. Amīcī quoque ibi ambulant. Nautae quoque in viīs vesperī ambulant. Noctū stellās clārās spectāmus.

IV: Cūr in casā stās, Cornēlia? Agricolam exspectō. Cornēlia in casā stat. Cornēlia agricolam exspectat. Agricola epistulam portat. Agricola epistulam Cornēliae dat.

V: Puellae saepe in viīs vesperī ambulant. Cūr agricola ex silvīs properat? Epistulās tuās nunc exspectāmus. Cūr māter mea mihi dōnum nōn dat? Māter tua tibi dōnum nōn dat quod nōn bene labōrās.

(1) vocabulary

• labōrō, -āre [1]: work
• portō, -āre [1]: carry
• stō, -āre [1]: stand
• impigra: energetic; industrious
• cum: when
• hīc: here
• ubi: where; when
• vesperī: in the evening

(2) This passage focusses on the first conjugation of verbs in the present tense.

infinitive: portāre (to carry)

portō: I carry; I am carrying; Latin does not distinguish the two English translations i.e. the one form conveys both meanings of ‘I do something’ or ‘I am doing something’.

portās: you (singular) carry; you (singular) are carrying

portat: (s)he / it carries; (s)he / it is carrying

portāmus: we carry; we are carrying

portātis: you (plural) carry; you (plural) are carrying

portant: they carry; they are carrying

(3) The verb conjugation comprises two parts:

[i] a stem vowel: -a- / -ā- e.g. portat; portāmus; the stem vowel is not used in the first person singular but in all other forms of the verb.

[ii] the personal endings:

Singular

-ō: I

-s: you (singular)

-t: he / she / it

Plural

-mus: we

-tis: you (plural)

-nt: they

(4) verbs are listed as the first person singular present tense and the infinitive; in these posts the conjugation number is also added:

portō, -āre [1]: carry

ambulō, -āre [1]: walk

exspectō, -āre [1]: wait (for)

laudō, -āre [1]: praise

stō, -āre [1]: stand

Note: dō, -are [1]; this verb is an exception in that, in most forms, it does not have a long ā:

dō, dās, dat, damus, datis, dant

LINKS

25.02.24: verbs; first conjugation present tense

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/04/verbs-first-conjugation-present-tense.html

25.02.24: verb translation [1]

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/04/look-at-images-and-translate-these.html

25.02.24: verb translation [2]

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/04/look-at-images-and-translate-phrases.html

21.10.24: Level 1; review; practice in the verbs [4]; 1st conjugation; present tense

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/211024-level-1-review-practice-in-verbs.html

21.10.24: Level 1; review; practice in the verbs [5]; 1st conjugation; present tense; more practice

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/211024-level-1-review-practice-in-verbs_11.html

____________________

I: Our school is a good school. We praise and love our school. You (pl.) praise the school, but you (pl.) do not work well at school. My sister praises the school and works well at school. My sister is an industrious girl.

II: Why are you (pl.) standing here? We are standing here because we are waiting for your daughter. Where is your daughter? My daughter is now at school.

III: In the evening I often walk in the streets. Friends also walk there. Sailors also walk in the streets in the evening. At night we look at the bright stars.

IV: Why are you standing in the house, Cornelia? I am waiting for the farmer. Cornelia is standing in the house. Cornelia is waiting for the farmer. The farmer is carrying a letter. The farmer gives the letter to Cornelia.

V: The girls often walk in the streets in the evening. Why is the farmer hurrying from the woods? We are now waiting for your letters. Why does my mother not give me a gift? Your mother does not give you a gift because you (sg.) do not work well.

10.04.27: Topic / Level 4; transport [5]: wheeled vehicles (5) carpentum [ii] the carpentum on the coins

The reference to the carpentum would have had cultural resonance amongst the ancient Romans. As a symbol of honour, it appeared on coins:

Image #1

22-23 AD: first depiction on a sestertius of a decorated carpentum drawn by a pair of mules

The coin refers to Livia, the wife of Augustus:

• S.P.Q.R IVLIAE AVGVST(ae); SPQR indicates that she is honoured by the Senate and the Roman people:

[i] Senatus Populusque Romanus

[ii] Iuliae Augustae: dative; honour given to her; IVLIA AVGVSTA were honorific titles given to her by Augustus

It was minted during the reign of her son Tiberius i.e. the immediate predecessor of Caligula:

• TI(berius) CAESAR DIVI AVG(usti) F(ilius) AVGVST(us) P(ontifex) M(aximus) TR(ibunicia) POT(estate) XXIIII (vicesima quarta) | Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus, Augustus, chief priest (Pontifex Maximus), holding tribunician power for the twenty-fourth time.

The coin’s production was authorised by the Senate:

• S(enatus) C(onsulto)

The coin is unlikely to be referring to her death, but to an illness from which she recovered and, in celebration of which, the Senate declared a holiday of thanksgiving.

Image #2

Bearing in mind that, as Suetonius describes, it was Caligula’s aim to reinstate his mother, there is a remarkable similarity in the design of this sestertius commemorating Agrippina the Elder, who had suffered owing to the actions of Tiberius. The coin was minted between AD 37 and 41.

[1] AGRIPPINA M(arci) F(ilia) MAT(er) C(aii) CAESARIS AVGVSTI | Agrippina, daughter of Marcus [Agrippa], mother of Gaius Caesar Augustus

[2] Unlike the previous coin, Agrippina’s image is distributed through currency circulation. In the same way that the ashes of Agrippina were brought to Rome at the busiest time of the day, the coin would have ensured maximium visibility.

[3] S P Q R MEMORIAE AGRIPPINAE | The Senate and People of Rome to the memory of Agrippina; again, there is official recognition of the status of Agrippina.

[4] The same (reversed) depiction of a decorated carpentum pulled by two mules, with its symbolic reverential significance.

What we see here is a physical reinforcement of Suetonius’ account: a deliberate piece of dynastic propaganda, confirming Caligula’s regime as a reversal of Tiberian repression, not unlike the commemorative coin issued by Brutus – with his portrait and its symbols of freedom from oppression – following the assassination of Julius Caesar.

10.04.27: Topic / Level 4; transport [4]: wheeled vehicles (4) carpentum [i] Caligula and the carpentum

(1) carpentum, -ī [2/n]: a two-wheeled carriage, covered by a canopy or curved roof and sometimes enclosed with curtains; used especially, but not exclusively, by high-ranking Roman women and also employed in grand funeral processions.

(2) Suetonius on the ‘showmanship’ of Caligula:

Caligula’s mother, Agrippina the Elder, and his eldest brother, Nero Julius Caesar, had been persecuted under the Emperor Tiberius, exiled to remote islands, and left to die in confinement, while public mourning for them was suppressed. Immediately upon his accession in 37 AD, the young Caligula sought both to strengthen his legitimacy and symbolically rehabilitate his family by recovering and publicly honouring the ashes of his mother and of Nero, thereby distinguishing his rule from the perceived cruelty of his predecessor.

… cōnfestim Pandateriam et Pontiās ad trānsferendōs mātris frātrisque cinerēs festīnāvit, tempestāte turbidā, quō magis pietās ēminēret, adiitque venerābundus ac per sēmet in urnās condidit; nec minōre scaenā Ōstiam praefīxō in birēmis puppe vēxillō et inde Rōmam Tiberī subvectōs per splendidissimum quemque equestris ōrdinis mediō ac frequentī diē duōbus ferculīs Mausōlēō intulit, īnferiāsque is annuā religiōne pūblicē īnstituit, et eō amplius mātrī circēnsēs carpentumque quō in pompā trādūcerētur.

He immediately hastened to Pandataria and the Pontian islands to transfer the ashes of his mother and brother, in a violent storm, so that his piety might be more conspicuous, and he approached with reverence, and placed the ashes in urns with his own hands; he brought them to Ostia with a flag fastened to the stern of the galley and then up the Tiber to Rome, borne on two biers to the mausoleum by the most illustrious in the equestrian order in the busy middle of the day. And he officially established rites in honour of the dead with an annual religious observance, and furthermore, circus games for his mother, and a ceremonial carriage in which she [i.e. her image] would be escorted in the procession.

(3)

[i] … cōnfestim Pandateriam et Pontiās ad trānsferendōs mātris frātrisque cinerēs festīnāvit, | he immediately hastened to Pandataria and the Pontian islands to transfer the ashes of his mother and brother,

[ii] tempestāte turbidā, | in a violent storm,

[iii] quō magis pietās ēminēret, | so that his piety might be more conspicuous

[iv] adiitque venerābundus | and he approached with reverence,

[v] ac per sēmet in urnās condidit; | and placed the ashes in urns with his own hands;

[vi] nec minōre scaenā | and with no less theatricality

[vii] Ostiam … intulit | he brought them to Ostia

[viii] praefīxō in birēmis puppe vēxillō | with an ensign / a military flag fastened to the stern of the galley [birēmis: specifically, a ship with two banks of oars]

[ix] et inde Rōmam Tiberī, |  and then up the Tiber to Rome,

[x] subvectōs per splendidissimum quemque equestris ōrdinis | (having been) borne by the most illustrious in the equestrian order,

[xi] mediō ac frequentī diē duōbus ferculīs Mausōlēō | on two biers to the mausoleum in the middle of the day [i.e. at the time when Rome would be the most crowded]

[xii] īnferiāsque is annuā religiōne pūblicē īnstituit, | and he officially established rites in honour of the dead with an annual religious observance,

[xiii] et eō amplius | and furthermore,

[xiv] mātrī circēnsēs | games in the circus for his mother,

[xv] carpentumque quō in pompā trādūcerētur. | and a carriage in which she [i.e. her image] would be escorted in the procession.

(4)

One feature of Classical Latin writing can be its intensity. There is nothing superfluous in Suetonius’ description of Caligula’s reverential treatment of the ashes. This is a calculated theatrical display, not only of personal grief but also of imperial power and state-sanctioned family rehabilitation.

[1] Displays of ‘filial duty’, personal grief and determination:

• personal retrieval of the ashes
• undeterred by a violent storm

Bear in mind that  - although Suetonius does not state it - adverse weather conditions could imply dissatisfaction on the part of the gods (a tactic of Tacitus). Likewise, the action could convey Caligula’s manic obsession.

• reverential behaviour
• collecting the ashes personally, a powerful image since the handling of human remains would have been shocking, a cause of religious pollution especially for a Roman of such high rank.

[2] Political and military recognition:

• ashes carried by equestrian knights
• a military flag (vexillum) on, given the context, a military ship (birēmis)
• official announcement of annual public acts of worship

[3] Maximum visibility for the Romans themselves:

• the transferring of the ashes by boat along the Tiber flowing through the centre of Rome
• the timing of the event: at noon when the streets of Rome would be packed
• the celebration of his mother at the most public of events, namely the games
• the transporting of his mother’s image in a luxury carpentum

[4] In his ‘asides’ Suetonius leaves us in no doubt that all of this was carefully planned to achieve a deliberate effect and was taken to its extreme:

quō magis pietās ēminēret, | so that his piety might be more conspicuous,

nec minōre scaenā | and with no less theatricality

et eō amplius | and furthermore,

09.04.27: Level 3 ACL/NJCL; 2016; Latin II (v); Questions [30] – [40]; questions

Brutus leads a revolution against the Roman people against Tarquinius Superbus who is not in Rome at the time.

Plēbēs miseriās et labōrēs habēbant quod Tarquinius erat rēx superbissimus. Brūtus, memorāns haec et alia ātrōciōra, turbam īrātam claudere portās Rōmae contrā rēgem Tarquinium et uxōrem et līberōs coēgit. Brūtus adulēscentēs Rōmae cōnscrībēbat et armābat, tum eōs in castra Ardeae mīsit. Ibi adulēscentēs contrā rēgem mīlitēs Ardeae incitāvērunt. Brūtus imperium Rōmae Lucrētiō, quī anteā ā rēge praefectus Rōmae creātus erat, dedit. Brūtus ad urbem Ardeam iter faciēbat. Postquam haec ad rēgem relāta sunt, rēbus novīs territus Tarquinius ad urbem Rōmam redīvit, quod rēs novās comprimere voluit.

Brūtus viam suam flexit quod obvius esse Tarquiniō nōluit. Simul Brūtus ad castra Ardeae, Tarquinius ad urbem Rōmam advēnit. Portae Tarquiniō clausae erant exsiliumque indictum est. Brūtus, līberātor Rōmānōrum, ā cīvibus laetīs laudātus est.

Adapted from Livy, Ab Urbe Condita ll.59–60

turbam: mob

coēgit: compelled

cōnscrībēbat: enrolled

castra: camp

Ardeae: at Ardea

praefectus: commander

rēbus novīs: because of revolution

redīvit: returned

comprimere: to suppress

flexit: changed

obvius esse: to meet (+ dat.)

nōluit: did not want

indictum est: was decreed

30. “Plēbēs...superbissimus”: Tarquinius was a king who was

A) haughty and caused miseries for the people

B) brave in war but feared by the people

C) ordered to work for the people

D) supported by the people in spite of their miseries

31. The best translation of ātrōciōra is:

A) savagely

B) more savage things

C) very savage things

D) as savagely as possible

32. “turbam...coēgit”: Brutus urged the people to

A) follow the advice of the king

B) remove the angry mob

C) shut out the king

D) remember the good which the king had done

33. “tum...incitāvērunt”: Brutus sent young men to Ardea to

A) sign a treaty with the army

B) build a new camp

C) stir up the soldiers against the king

D) capture Tarquinius

34. “Brūtus...dedit”: what do we learn about Lucretius?

A) Tarquinius had wanted to name him commander of Rome.

B) Tarquinius already had established him as commander of Rome.

C) Lucretius had ruled in Ardea earlier.

D) Lucretius had held power before Tarquinius Superbus.

35. What does the idiom iter faciēbat mean?

A) was becoming

B) was searching

C) was leading

D) was traveling

36. Postquam haec ad rēgem relāta sunt most closely means:

A) The messenger had been brought to the king later.

B) These events were spread far and wide later.

C) After these messengers left the king.

D) After these events were reported to the king.

37. “rēbus...voluit”: Tarquinius returned to Rome to

A) cause a revolution

B) put down the revolt

C) increase his alliances

D) explain his difficult situation

38. “Brūtus...nōluit”: Brutus changed his route to

A) gain time for attack

B) capture Tarquinius on the way

C) avoid facing Tarquinius

D) set an ambush for Tarquinius

39. “Tarquinius...indictum est”: when Tarquinius arrived in Rome,

A) the gates were opened by spies

B) he chose to become an exile

C) he was captured and killed

D) the gates were closed and exile was ordered

40. At the end of the passage, the reader learns that

A) Brutus was praised by the happy citizens

B) Tarquinius was freed

C) Tarquinius closed the gates

D) Brutus was chosen as king by the citizens

08.04.27: Level 1-2 (review): Julia (a Latin Reader) [11] (2)

CȲRUS (2)

Post paucōs annōs Cȳrus, Persārum prīnceps, cōpiās in Mēdōrum agrōs dūxit, et tōtam regiōnem celeriter vīcit. Itaque et Mēdiae et Persiae, ingentis rēgnī, rēx erat.

Croesus, ubi cīvēs Cȳrī facta nūntiāvērunt, "Sī Cȳrus," inquit, "adhūc adolēscēns, tam celeriter Mēdōs superāvit, sine dubiō ego, rēx maximus dīvitissimusque, Cȳrum superābō."

Cōpiās igitur cito collēgit et in fīnitimōs agrōs dūxit. Sed nōn bene rem gessit. Nōn diū rēgis exercitus hostium impetum sustinēbat. Persae Croesī mīlitēs fugāvērunt. In Lȳdiam contendērunt et omnia loca ferrō et ignī vastāvērunt; hominēs necāvērunt; vīcōs et frūmentum incendērunt. Rēx perterritus rēgiam petīvit. Eō intrāvit Cȳrus. Cȳrus, vehementer īrātus, "Cūr, Ō Croese," rogāvit, "sine causā bellum in agrōs meōs intulistī? Tū igitur stultitiae tuae poenās gravissimās mihi dabis. Servī meī rogum ingentem trabibus validīs aedificābunt; tē in rogum impōnent; tum tē rogumque incendent."

Media, -ae [1/f]: Media, a country south of the Caspian Sea

[i]

cōpiae, -ārum [1/f pl.]: forces

ferrum, -ī [2/n]: iron, sword

impetus, -ūs [4/m]: attack

Medī, -ōrum [2/m pl.]: Medes

Persae, -ārum [1/m pl.]: Persians

rogus, -ī [2/m]: funeral pile

trabs, trabis [3/f]: beam

[ii]

maximus, -a, -um: greatest, very great

[iii]

colligō, -ere [3]: collect

gerō, -ere [3]: carry on; rem bene gerō: succeed

inferō, inferre: bring into, inflict on

nūntiō, -āre [1]: announce

superō, -āre [1]: overcome

sustineō, -ēre [2]: hold up, sustain

vastō, -āre [1]: devastate, destroy

____________________

After a few years Cyrus, leader of the Persians, led an army into the territory of the Medes and quickly conquered the whole region. Therefore he became king of both Media and Persia, a vast kingdom.

When the subjects of Cyrus reported these deeds, Croesus said:

"If Cyrus, still a young man, has conquered the Medes so quickly, then surely I, the greatest and richest of kings, shall conquer Cyrus."

Accordingly, he quickly gathered his forces and led them into the neighbouring territory. But he was not successful. The king's army did not withstand the enemy's attack for long. The Persians put Croesus' soldiers to flight. They advanced into Lydia and laid waste all places with fire and sword; they killed people and burned villages and grain crops. Terrified, the king made for the royal palace.

Cyrus entered it. Greatly angered, Cyrus asked:

"Why, O Croesus, did you without cause bring war upon my lands? Therefore you shall pay me the severest penalty for your folly. My slaves will build a huge funeral pyre from sturdy beams; they will place you upon the pyre; then they will set fire to both you and the pyre."