03.11.26: Level 3+ (Review); P. Cornelius Lentulus: The Story Of A Roman Boy [6]

LXVI. LENTULUS ENGAGES A TUTOR FOR HIS SON

Ā prīmīs annīs quidem Iūlia ipsa fīlium suum docuerat, et Pūblius nōn sōlum pūrē et Latīnē loquī poterat sed etiam commodē legēbat et scrībēbat. Iam Ennium aliōsque poētās lēgerat. Nunc vērō Pūblius duodecim annōs habēbat; itaque eī pater bonum magistrum, virum omnī doctrīnā et virtūte ōrnātissimum, parāvit, quī Graeca*, mūsicam, aliāsque artēs docēret. Namque illīs temporibus omnēs ferē gentēs Graecē loquēbantur. Cum Pūbliō aliī puerī, Lentulī amīcōrum fīliī, discēbant. Nam saepe apud Rōmānōs mōs erat nōn in lūdum fīliōs mittere sed domī per magistrum docēre. Cotīdiē discipulī cum magistrō in peristȳlō Marcī domūs sedēbant. Omnēs puerī bullam auream, orīginis honestae signum, in collō gerēbant, et omnēs togā praetextā amictī erant, quod nōndum sēdecim annōs nātī sunt.

*Graeca, -ōrum [2/n/pl]: Greek writings / literature

Comprehension

[1] “Ā prīmīs annīs …. lēgerat.” What details are given about Publius’ early education? (4 marks)

[2] “Nunc vērō … loquēbantur.” What changes were made to his education when he was older? (6 marks)

[3] “Cum Pūbliō … nātī sunt.” What do we learn about in this section of the passage regarding:

[a] Roman boys? (5 marks)

[b] the education of Publius and his friends? (6 marks)

____________________

Notes on the subjunctive: purpose

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/subjunctive%3A%20purpose

Eī pater bonum magistrum … parāvit, quī Graeca, mūsicam, aliāsque artēs docēret.

• The father provided a good teacher for him who was to teach Greek, music, and other arts.

____________________

[1] Julia / Publius’ mother had taught him (1) │ Iūlia ipsa fīlium suum docuerat

spoke and wrote Latin (1) ¦ fluently and with ease (1)│ nōn sōlum pūrē et Latīnē loquī poterat sed etiam commodē legēbat et scrībēbat

had read Ennius and other poets (1) │ Ennium aliōsque poētās lēgerat

[2] Father arranged a good tutor for him (1) │ pater bonum magistrum … parāvit

highly accomplished (1) in every branch of learning and virtue (1) │ virum omnī doctrīnā et virtūte ōrnātissimum

to teach him (1) Greek writings, music and other arts (1) │ quī Graeca, mūsicam, aliāsque artēs ¦ docēret

almost everybody spoke Greek (1) │ omnēs ferē gentēs Graecē loquēbantur

[3] [a] Wore a gold bulla (1) around their neck (1); mark of respectable birth (1) │ bullam auream, ¦ orīginis honestae signum, ¦ in collō gerēbant, et omnēs togā praetextā amictī erant, quod nōndum sēdecim annōs nātī sunt.

Wore the toga praetexta (1) because they were not yet 16 (1)  │ togā praetextā amictī erant, ¦ quod nōndum sēdecim annōs nātī sunt

[b] Publius and his friends learned together (1); sons of Lentulus’ friends (1) │ Cum Pūbliō aliī puerī, ¦ Lentulī amīcōrum fīliī, ¦ discēbant.

often did not go to a school (1) │ nōn in lūdum fīliōs mittere

educated at home by a teacher (1) │ domī per magistrum docēre

studied daily (1) in the peristyle garden (of Marcus’ house) (1) │ Cotīdiē ¦ discipulī cum magistrō in peristȳlō Marcī domūs ¦ sedēbant.

02.11.26: topic; architecture [15]; describing a modern house (Traupman); dialogue (2) [ii] an interesting discussion

The odd omission from the Traupman dialogue [LINK] is how Latin would express ‘living room’ because the Romans did not have a single room in the way we understand its modern function. However, given that one of the aims of this topic is to facilitate spoken Latin in a contemporary way, it needs to be included.

To begin, I shall quote some extracts from a discussion a decade ago:

https://latin.stackexchange.com/questions/2272/what-is-living-room-in-latin

“I would like to find a good Latin word for "living room". I know some options, but my list might not be complete and I am not sure what is the best choice. It may well be that different words are needed for different kinds of living rooms.”

This is certainly true in the ancient world although we will not find the “answer” from the poorer classes of Rome since most of them lived in single rooms in large, cramped and poorly constructed apartment blocks called insulae. They had neither washing nor cooking facilities, hence the proliferation of thermae (public bath houses), street fountains, and “fast food” outlets known as thermopolia.

In the large, wealthy Roman town houses and in the sprawling country villas, there were different rooms where the type of activity took place that we would associate with our living rooms – but none of them encompass a unified concept.

One response to the initial question was:

“Have you tried looking at modern Latin dictionaries already?”

That the original writer had provided a list of possibilities suggests this process had already been done, but it had not resolved the issue. The link below gives eight different Neo-Latin definitions for the same word:

https://neolatinlexicon.org/latin/living_room/

The problem is compounded by different writers inconsistently employing vocabulary.

[1] Traupman (Conversational Latin for Oral Proficiency) lists two – but does not use them in his text :

[i] sessōrium, -ī [2/n]; Amery (First Thousand Words in Latin) also chooses this noun.

[ii] synoecium, -ī [2/n]

[2] Wilkes (Latin for Beginners) lists mediānum, -ī [2/n]

[3] ātrium, -ī [2/n] is listed at:

https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Latin_II/Household_Lesson_1#

This is also given as “lounge” at:

https://neolatinlexicon.org/latin/lounge/

Question: does it matter? Not really, if you are only focussing on the Classical world because the language has a wide range of vocabulary to denote the rooms in Roman houses, the functions generally well defined. In a contemporary sense, however, it is an interesting task to question and / or challenge what is presented as being “correct”.

This can be done in a number of ways, one of which is to check the frequency with which a word was used in Classical Latin and whether it at least partially conveyed the meaning.

[1] https://logeion.uchicago.edu/sessorium

Lewis & Short: [i] stool, chair; [ii] a place of residence, dwelling, habitation

The noun occurs once. In the Satyricon (Petronius), Trimalchio describes his vast property:

Habet quattuor cēnātiōnēs, | It has 4 dining rooms,

cubicula vīgintī, | 20 bedrooms,

porticūs marmorātōs duōs | two marble halls,

sū(r)sum cellātiōnem, | a series of storerooms upstairs

cubiculum in quō ipse dormiō, | a bedroom in which I myself sleep,

** vīperae huius sessōrium.... | a chamber for this viper, ** [i.e. a place where the viper ‘lives’ / ‘sits’ / ‘resides’]

ōstiāriī cellam perbonam; | the porter’s excellent room;

hospitium hospitēs capit. | the guest room receives guests.

[2] https://logeion.uchicago.edu/synoecium

Lewis & Short: a room where several persons dwell together

From a German definition: das gemeinsame Wohnzimmer | the shared / common living room

The noun occurs only once, and also from the Satyricon:

Nam sī aliquis ex īs, quī in eōdem synoeciō pōtant, ... | For if any one of those who drink in the same tenement / lodging…

I suspect that Traupman has tried to find an all-embracing noun, but neither of these were in common use, nor does he consider other nouns that are functionally closer.

[3] Wilkes’ suggestion of mediānum, -ī [2/n] is distinctly odd since, in Classical Latin, it had no suggestion of any form of living space; as a noun, it referred to the middle part.

https://logeion.uchicago.edu/medianus

[4] There are, however, potential “candidates”.

[i] exedra, -ae [1/f] “In private houses the exedra was a room intended for conversation” (Thurston Peck)

[ii] ex(h)edrium, -ī [2/n]: Lewis & Short define this word as a “sitting room, parlour” and is referred to by Cicero:

Exhedria quaedam mihi nova sunt īnstitūta in porticulā Tusculānī.

“Certain new sitting-rooms have been set up for me in the little portico of the Tusculan villa.”

In architectural terms, they may have been little more than ‘side rooms’ or a semi-circular seating area opening out to, for example, the peristylium (garden with colonnades). While neither of them would precisely render the concept of a living room, both refer to areas of a Roman house where people would withdraw for conversation and social interaction. To that extent, the rather formal English term “drawing room”, a shortened version of “withdrawing room”, reflects a similar concept.

[iii] ātrium, -ī [2/n]

The original function of the ātrium was discussed here: xx.yy.26: topic; architecture [6]; The Roman House [1] [LINK]

However, since it was a location for receiving visitors – the term “reception rooms” is used today by, for example, estate agents – then it is a reasonable rendering of “living room”. Moreover, in social terms, the ātrium was the largest – and most impressive – area of a Roman house, designed to convey the wealth and influence of the owner. In many houses in England built in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, the “living room” was often described as the “best room” i.e. the one that was the most elaborately furnished and conventionally used for visitors.

The writer of the original post makes the following observation:

“Atrium: Has the meaning of "main room", but also the tone of "entrance". If many other rooms are accessed through the living room, I would be tempted to use this word.”

And so would I.

02.11.26: topic; architecture [14]; describing a modern house (Traupman); dialogue (2) [i]

Read the dialogue and match the words and phrases in bold with the images. The images are not in the same order as the text references.

A: Mōnstrā mihi, quaesō, partem interiōrem huius domūs.

B: Libenter. Est vērō domus ēlegāns. Sunt pictūrae in quōque pariete.

A: Quot cubicula sunt in hāc domō?

B: Omnīnō quattuor cubicula.

A: Quid est in quōque cubiculō?

B: Bīnī lectī et bīnae cathedrae et vestiārium.

A: Estne tablīnum in hāc domō?

B: Etiam. Est profectō magna mēnsa scrīptōria rōborea ibi; atque sunt pluteī circā parietēs omnēs.

A: Habetne domus amplam culīnam?

B: Ita; est magnus camīnus in culīnā atque fūsōrium.

A: Ubi est trīclīnium?

B: Trīclīnium situm est inter culīnam et balneum. Prope balneum est lātrīna. In balneō est solium magnum.

[1]

[i] domus, -ūs [4/f]: house

[ii] pariēs, pariētis [3/m]: (interior) wall

[iii] pars, partis [3/f]: part

[iv] pictūra, -ae [1/f]: picture, painting

[2]

[i] trīclīnium, -ī [2/n]: dining room

also:

(1) cēnāculum, -ī [2/n]: [i] dining room < cēnō (dine) + -culum; [ii] the location of the cēnaculum was often in an upper storey and has the additional and more general meaning of ‘upper room’ or ‘attic’; the noun could be associated with the dwellings of the poorer classes of Roman society

(2) cēnātiō, -nis [3/f]: dining room; dining hall

[ii] culīna, -ae [1/f]: kitchen

[iii] fūsōrium, -ī [2/n]: sink / basin (Neo-Latin); listed in various sources

https://logeion.uchicago.edu/fusorium

https://latinlexicon.org/definition.php?p1=4001082&p2=f

[iv] The general term for a ‘cooker’ has various equivalents in Neo-Latin. Traupman (in Conversational Latin for Oral Proficiency) lists:

foculus, -ī [2/m]: in Classical Latin, this can refer to a ‘brazier’ i.e. portable container to hold burning coals or charcoal, and used for heating or cooking

foculus ēlectricus: electric cooker 

caminus, -ī [2/m]: (CL) fireplace; (Neo-Latin) stove

[v] CL has several words for an ‘oven’:

caminus, -ī [2/m]

clībanus, -ī [2/m]

fornāx, fornācis [3/f]

furnus, -ī [2/m]

Although Lewis & Short list them all as synonyms, some of them may refer to large ovens i.e. a furnace or a pottery kiln: “The furnus of the ancients was a massive oven, similar to our pizza ovens; the clibanus was in contrast a small, portable oven (most often, but not always, used for bread)” (Neo-Latin Lexicon)

[3]

[i] cubiculum, -ī [2/n]: bedroom

also: dormītōrium, -ī [2/n]: bedroom

[ii] lectus, -ī [2/m]: bed

also: cubīle, -is [3/n]: bed

[iii] cathedra, -ae [1/f]: armchair

also: sella, -ae [1/f]: seat; chair

vestiārium, -ī [2/n]: wardrobe; cloakroom < vestis (clothing) +‎ -ārium (used to express where things are kept); some writers also use this noun to refer to a chest of drawers

also: armārium, -ī [2/n]: closet; cupboard < arma (weapons; tools) + -ārium, i.e. not necessarily for clothes

[4]

[i] tablīnum, -ī [2/n]: study / office

[ii] mēnsa, -ae [1/f]: table

mēnsa scrīptōria: writing desk

[iii] plūteus, -ī [2/m]: shelf / bookcase

also: librārium, -ī [2/n]: bookcase

[5]

[i] balneum, -ī [2/n]: bath / bathroom

[ii] latrīna, -ae [1/f]: toilet / lavatory

[iii] solium, -ī [2/n]: bathtub / bath

also:

alveus, -ī [2/m]: bath tub

lābrum, -ī [2/n]: bath tub

> lābellum, -ī [2/n]: CL a small basin > basin for washing hands

____________________

01.11.26: Level 1-2 (review): Julia (a Latin Reader) [4] (1)

CERĒS ET PERSEPHONĒ

Nunc ūnum Deum adōrant et Italī et Britannī. Sed ōlim Rōmānī multōs deōs, multās deās, adōrābant. Dē deīs Rōmānīs fābulās nārrābō.

Cērēs erat dea frūmentī; in agrīs frūmentum, in prātīs herbam cūrābat. Flāvum est frūmentum; flāvī erant Deae capillī. Caerulea erat Deae palla. Persephonē erat fīlia Deae. Cerēs fīliam cāram vehementer amābat. In īnsulā Siciliā Cerēs cum fīliā habitābat.

Ōlim Persephonē in prātīs errābat. Cum puellā aliae puellae errābant, nam locus herbōsus fuit grātus puellīs laetīs. In prātō herbōsō puellae saltābant et cantābant. Multae rosae, multa līlia, in prātīs erant. Līlia alba puellās dēlectābant.

Sed Plūtō, patruus puellae, Deae fīliam procul spectāvit et statim puellam vehementer amāvit. Subitō equōs caeruleōs incitāvit et per prāta properāvit, et puellam perterritam raptāvit.

Tum Persephonē, “Ō Cerēs,” exclāmat, “ubi es? Patruus meus fīliam tuam ad Īnferōs portat.”

[1]

Cērēs, Cereris [3/f]: Ceres

Persephonē, -ēs [1/f]: Persephone

Plūtō, -ōnis [3/m]: Pluto

īnsula, -ae [1/f]: island

līlium, -ī [2/n]: lily

locus, -ī [2/m]: place

patruus, -ī [2/m]: uncle

prātum, -ī [2/n]: meadow

[2]

flāvus, -a, -um: yellow

herbōsus, -a, -um: grassy

laetus, -a, -um: happy

cārus, -a, -um: dear

[3]

adōrō, adōrāre [1]: worship

cūrō, cūrāre [1]: care for

dēlectō, dēlectāre [1]: delight

errō, errāre [1]: wander

incitō, incitāre [1]: spur on

[4]

statim: immediately

vehementer: strongly

___________________

Now both Italians and Britons worship one god. But once the Romans worshipped many gods and goddesses. I will tell stories about the Roman gods.

Ceres was the goddess of grain; in the fields she cared for grain, in the meadows for grass. The grain is yellow; the goddess’s hair was yellow. Her cloak was blue. Persephone was the daughter of the goddess. Ceres loved her dear daughter deeply. Ceres lived with her daughter on the island of Sicily.

Once Persephone wandered in the meadows. Other girls wandered with her, for the grassy place was pleasing to the happy girls. In the grassy meadow the girls danced and sang. Many roses and many lilies were in the meadows. The white lilies delighted the girls.

But Pluto, the girl’s uncle, saw the daughter of the goddess from afar and immediately loved her deeply. Suddenly he drove his horses and rushed through the meadows, and he seized the terrified girl.

Then Persephone cried out, “O Ceres, where are you? My uncle is carrying your daughter to the Underworld.”

31.10.26: Level 3+; P. Cornelius Lentulus: The Story Of A Roman Boy [5]

LXV. A DAY AT POMPEII

Apud forum ē currū dēscendērunt et Lentulus dīxit: “Hīc sunt multa tabernārum genera, mī Pūblī. Ecce, trāns viam est popīna! Hoc genus tabernārum cibāria vēndit. Frūctūs quoque ante iānuam stant. Ibi cibāria mea emam.”

“Optimē,” respondit Pūblius. “At ubi, mī pater, crūstula emere possumus? Namque māter nōbīs imperāvit ut haec quoque parārēmus. Timeō ut ista popīna vendat crūstula.”

“Bene dīcis,” inquit Lentulus. “At nōnne vidēs illum fontem ā dextrā ubi aqua per leōnis caput fluit? In illō ipsō locō est taberna pistōris quī sine dubiō vēndit crūstula.”

Brevi tempore omnia erant parāta, iamque quīnta hōra erat. Deinde Lentulus et fīlius ad caupōnam properāvērunt, quod famē et sitī urgēbantur. Ibi sub arboris umbrā sēdērunt et puerō imperāvērunt ut sibi cibum et vīnum daret. Huic imperiō puer celeriter pāruit. Tum laetī sē ex labōre refēcērunt.

Post prandium profectī sunt ut alia urbis spectācula vidērent. Illō tempore fuērunt Pompēiīs multa templa, duo theātra, thermae magnumque amphitheātrum, quae omnia post paucōs annōs flammīs atque incendiīs Vesuvī et terrae mōtū dēlēta sunt. Ante hanc calamitātem autem hominēs nihil dē monte veritī sunt. In amphitheātrō quidem Pūblius morārī cupīvit ut spectācula gladiātōria vidēret, quae in illum ipsum diem prōscrīpta erant et iam rē vērā incēperant.

Sed Lentulus dīxit: “Morārī, Pūblī, vereor ut possīmus. Iam decima hōra est et via est longa. Tempus suādet ut quam prīmum domum revertāmur.”

Itaque servō imperāvit ut equōs iungeret, et sōlis occāsū ad vīllam pervēnērunt.

Comprehension

Read the passage carefully. Decide whether each statement is true or false according to the text. If a statement is false, write in English what the true statement should be.

[i] Lentulus and Publius got down from their chariot near the forum.

[ii] According to Lentulus many different kinds of shops are found in this area.

[iii] The shop across the street sells clothing.

[iv] Fruit is displayed in front of the door.

[v] Publius’ mother has told them to buy cakes.

[vi] Publius is sure that the cook-shop across the street sells cakes.

[vii] There is fountain where water flows from a lion’s head.

[viii] The bakery is located a short walk from the fountain.

[ix] All their shopping was finished by the fifth hour.

[x] They went to the inn because they were hungry and thirsty.

[xi] They sat under the shade of a tree.

[xii] They ordered food and drink from the serving girl.

[xiii] After lunch, they left to see other sights of the city.

[xiv] Before the disaster, people were afraid of Mount Vesuvius.

[xv] Publius wanted to stay to watch the gladiatorial games.

[xvi] Lentulus thinks that they will be able to stay longer.

[xvii] Lentulus thinks they should go home later.

[xviii] Lentulus ordered the slave to yoke the horses.

[xix] They reached the villa before sunset.

____________________

Notes on the subjunctive

[i] purpose

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/subjunctive%3A%20purpose

Post prandium profectī sunt ut alia urbis spectācula vidērent.

• After lunch they set out in order to see other sights of the city.

In amphitheātrō quidem Pūblius morārī cupīvit ut spectācula gladiātōria vidēret.

• In the amphitheater, indeed, Publius wished to linger in order to see gladiatorial shows.

[ii] indirect command; where English uses an infinitive, Latin most often uses ut + subjunctive

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/subjunctive%3A%20indirect%20commands

Namque māter nōbīs imperāvit ut haec quoque parārēmus.

• For mother ordered us to prepare these things as well [literally: …that we should prepare …]

… et puerō imperāvērunt ut sibi cibum et vīnum daret.

• … and they ordered a boy to give them food and wine.

Tempus suādet ut quam prīmum domum revertāmur.

• Time urges us to return home as soon as possible.

Itaque servō imperāvit ut equōs iungeret.

• And so he ordered a slave to yoke the horses.

[iii] fear; verbs of fear ‘reverse’ the use of ut and nē:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/subjunctive%3A%20verbs%20of%20fearing

vereor / timeō + nē + subjunctive = I fear that something may happen

vereor / timeō + ut + subjunctive = I fear that something may not happen

• Timeō ut ista popīna vendat crūstula.

I’m afraid that that cook-shop may not sell cakes.

Morārī, Pūblī, vereor ut possīmus.

• Publius, I fear that we may not be able to linger.

____________________

[i] Lentulus and Publius got down from their chariot near the forum. (True)

Apud forum ē currū dēscendērunt.

[ii] According to Lentulus many different kinds of shops are found in this area. (True)

Hīc sunt multa tabernārum genera.

[iii] The shop across the street sells clothing. (False)

The shop across the street sells food. │ Hoc genus tabernārum cibāria vēndit

[iv] Fruit is displayed in front of the door. (True)

Frūctūs quoque ante iānuam stant

[v] Publius’ mother has told them to buy cakes. (True)

Māter nōbīs imperāvit ut haec quoque parārēmus

[vi] Publius is sure that the cook-shop across the street sells cakes. (False)

Publius is afraid that the cook-shop may not sell cakes. │ Timeō ut ista popīna vendat crūstula

[vii] There is fountain where water flows from a lion’s head. (True)

fontem … ubi aqua per leōnis caput fluit

[viii] The bakery is located a short walk from the fountain. (False)

The bakery is at the same place as the fountain. │ In illō ipsō locō est taberna pistōris.

[ix] All their shopping was finished by the fifth hour. (True)

Brevi tempore omnia erant parāta, iamque quīnta hōra erat.

[x] They went to the inn because they were hungry and thirsty. (True)

quod famē et sitī urgēbantur

[xi] They sat under the shade of a tree. (True)

Ibi sub arboris umbrā sēdērunt.

[xii] They ordered food and drink from the maidsevant. (False)

from the male servant / slave │ puerō imperāvērunt ut sibi cibum et vīnum daret.

[xiii] After lunch, they left to see other sights of the city. (True)

Post prandium profectī sunt ut alia urbis spectācula vidērent.

[xiv] Before the disaster, people were afraid of Mount Vesuvius. (False)

Before the disaster, people were not afraid of Mount Vesuvius. │ [ii] hominēs nihil dē monte veritī sunt

[xv] Publius wanted to stay to watch the gladiatorial games. (True)

Pūblius morārī cupīvit ut spectācula gladiātōria vidēret

[xvi] Lentulus thinks that they will be able to stay longer. (False)

Lentulus is afraid that they may not be able to stay longer. │ Morārī, Pūblī, vereor ut possīmus

[xvii] Lentulus thinks they should go home later. (False)

Lentulus thinks they should return home as soon as possible. │ Tempus suādet ut quam prīmum domum revertāmur

[xviii] Lentulus orders the slave to yoke the horses. (True)

Servō imperāvit ut equōs iungeret

[xix] They reached the villa before sunset. (False)

They reached the villa at sunset │ sōlis occāsū ad vīllam pervēnērunt

30.10.26: topic; architecture [13]; describing a modern house (Traupman); dialogue (1)

A standard UK GCSE examination (for 16-year-olds) in, for example, French would explore this topic by asking the candidate to say:

[1] whether (s)he lives in, for example, a house or an apartment;

[2] how many rooms – or specifically named rooms – there are e.g. the number of bedrooms;

[3] where rooms are located either on which floor or in relation to each other;

[4] what items of furniture or equipment are in particular rooms; 3 or 4 items would be expected; the kitchen is often questioned because it has less common vocabulary (e.g. cooker, fridge etc);

[5] what activities take place in a particular room.

It is perfectly possible to do this in Latin. By applying that suggested structure, you can practise speaking the language, and talking about your own surroundings while reinforcing vocabulary and grammar.

For the most part, Classical Latin has the vocabulary required although there are a few instances where Neo-Latin is needed. However, different sources may use different words for the same modern concept, and this is referred to in the vocabulary lists. I find certain Neo-Latin words dubious, but where the word is rooted in the original CL idea – and its use can be justified – I have included it and given an explanation.

[1]

A: Gloria, potesne venire domum meam? | Gloria, can you come to my house?

B: Quid poterimus facere ibi? | What can we do there?

A: Poterimus librōs legere in cubiculō meō. | We can read books in my bedroom.

B: Benignē. Ego multōs librōs domī habeō. | No, thank you. I have many books at home

A: Fortasse poterimus coquere crūstula in culīnā nostrā. | Maybe we can bake cookies in our kitchen

B: Benignē. Ego saepe coquō crūstula in culīnā meā. | No, thank you. I often bake cookies in my kitchen.

A: Recēns ego comparāvī novum catulum. Vīsne lūdere cum meō novō catulō in peristyliō nostrō? | Recently I got a new puppy. Do you want to play with my new puppy in our courtyard?

B: Ō, ego prōrsus adorō catulōs! Eāmus illūc curriculō! | Oh, I absolutely adore puppies! Let’s go there on the double!

[2] Answer the questions:

[i] Ubi cum cane ludis?

[ii] Ubi dēambulās?

[iii] Ubi dentēs pūrgās?

[iv] Ubi dormīs?

[v] Ubi ientāculum sumis?

[vi] Ubi librōs legis?

[vii] Ubi mūsicam audīs?

[viii] Ubi prandium sumis?

[ix] Ubi tē lavās?

[x] Ubi vestīmenta mutās?

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

RŌMA

Ōlim Rōmānī oppidum parvum habitābant. Nunc magna et splendida est Rōma; magnae et lātae sunt oppidī viae. In angulīs viārum rōsae sunt; Rōmānī templīs et monumentīs viās ōrnant.

Ōlim in Forō Rōmānō templa multa et splendida erant. Cottīdiē virī Rōmānī in Forō ambulābant. Albae erant togae virōrum, sed rubrae et caeruleae et croceae erant pallae fēminārum. Ārae quoque in Forō erant. In ārīs Rōmānī victimās multās Deīs Rōmānīs mactābant.

Nōn iam templa sunt in Forō Rōmānō. Nōn iam mactant Rōmānī victimās in ārīs. Sed etiam nunc pulchrum est Forum Rōmānum. Multae sunt ruīnae; rosae multae inter ruīnās sunt. Inter ruīnās et rosās lacertae parvae properant. Pulchrae et iūcundae sunt lacertae. Cicādae quoque undique cantant. Lacertīs et cicādīs grātum est caelum caeruleum.

[1]

fēmina, -ae [1/f]: woman

Forum Rōmānum, -ī [2/n]: Roman Forum

lacerta, -ae [1/f]: lizard

monumentum, -ī [2/n]: monument

palla, -ae [1/f]: cloak

ruīna, -ae [1/f]: ruin

toga, -ae [1/f]: toga

victima, -ae [1/f]: sacrificial victim

[2]

croceus, -a, -um: saffron-colored

lātus, -a, -um: wide

iūcundus, -a, -um: pleasant

[3]

cantō, cantāre [1]: sing

mactō, mactāre [1]: sacrifice

[4]

inter (+ acc.): among, between

undique: everywhere

ōlim: once, formerly

___________________

Once the Romans lived in a small town. Now Rome is great and splendid; the streets of the town are wide and large. In the corners of the streets there are roses; the Romans adorn the streets with temples and monuments.

Once in the Roman Forum there were many splendid temples. Every day Roman men walked in the Forum. The togas of the men were white, but the cloaks of the women were red, blue, and saffron. There were also altars in the Forum. On the altars the Romans sacrificed many victims to the Roman gods.

Now there are no longer temples in the Roman Forum. The Romans no longer sacrifice victims on the altars. But even now the Roman Forum is beautiful. There are many ruins; many roses are among the ruins. Among the ruins and roses small lizards hurry. The lizards are beautiful and pleasant. Cicadas also sing everywhere. The blue sky is pleasing to the lizards and cicadas.

28.11.26: Level 1 (review); Questions [13] – [18]

 

27.10.26: Level 3+; P. Cornelius Lentulus: The Story Of A Roman Boy [4]

LXIV. LENTULUS REACHES HOME; PUBLIUS VISITS POMPEII WITH HIS FATHER

Part One

Using the English translation, complete the Latin text with the verbs listed at the end of the exercise; note the occasional changes in word order.

[i]

After a few days, the ship of Marcus Cornelius Lentulus (1) made for the harbour of Misenum, a harbour which (2) is situated not far from Pompeii; in this harbour the Roman fleet (3) was stationed and (4) was being equipped for naval battles. There ships of every kind (5) could (6) be seen.

Post paucōs diēs nāvis M. Cornēlī Lentulī portum Misēnī (1) __________, quī portus nōn longē ā Pompēiīs (2) __________; quō in portū classis Rōmāna (3) __________ et ad pugnās nāvālēs (4) __________. Ibi nāvēs omnium generum (6) __________ (5) __________.

[ii]

And now, with incredible speed, the long ship in which Lentulus (7) was being carried (8) drew near to the shore; for (9) it was driven not only by the wind but also by the oars. On the high stern (10) stood the helmsman, and not far away some Roman soldiers with splendid weapons, among whom Lentulus (11) was the most distinguished.

Iamque incrēdibilī celeritāte nāvis longa quā Lentulus (7) __________ litorī (8) __________; nam nōn sōlum ventō sed etiam rēmīs (9) __________. In altā puppe (10) __________ gubernātor et nōn procul aliquī mīlitēs Rōmānī cum armīs splendidīs, inter quōs clārissimus (11) __________ Lentulus.

[iii]

Then the slaves (12) ceased (13) straining at the oars; the sailors (14) hauled in the sail and (15) cast the anchors. Lentulus immediately (16) disembarked from the ship and (17) hurried to his villa. Julia, Publius, and the whole family (18) welcomed him. What embraces, what great joys there (19) were!

Deinde servī rēmīs (13) __________ (12) __________; nautae vēlum (14) __________ et ancorās (15) __________. Lentulus statim ē nāvī (16) __________ et ad villam suam (17) __________. Eum Iūlia, Pūblius, tōtaque familia (18) __________. Quī complexus, quanta gaudia (19) __________!

adpropinquāvit; cessāvērunt; cōnspicī; contendere; contrāxērunt; egressus est; erat; excēpērunt; fuērunt; iēcērunt; impellēbātur; ōrnābātur; petiit; pōnēbātur; poterant; properāvit; situs est; stābat; vehēbātur

Part Two

Translate:

Postrīdiē eius diēī Lentulus fīliō suō dīxit: “Venī, mī Pūblī, mēcum. Pompēiōs iter hodiē faciam. Māter tua suādet ut frūctūs et cibāria emam. Namque plūrēs amīcōs ad cēnam vocāvimus et multīs rēbus egēmus. Ea hortātur ut quam prīmum proficīscāmur.”

Part Two: notes on the subjunctive

Subjunctive: indirect command; ut + subjunctive after verbs of ordering, advising, urging

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/subjunctive%3A%20indirect%20commands

[i] Māter tua suādet ut frūctūs et cibāria emam.

• Your mother advises that I buy fruit and provisions [ = advises me to buy …]

[ii] Ea hortātur ut quam prīmum proficīscāmur.

• She urges that we set out as soon as possible [ = urges us to set out…]

Part Three

“Libenter, mī pater,” inquit Pūblius; “tēcum esse mihi semper est grātum; nec Pompēiōs umquam vīdī. Sine morā proficīscī parātus sum.”

Tum celeriter currum cōnscendērunt et ad urbis mūrōs vectī sunt. Stabiānā portā urbem ingressī sunt. Pūblius strātās viās mīrātur et saxa altiōra quae in mediō disposita erant et altās orbitās* quās rotae inter haec saxa fēcerant. Etiam strepitum mīrātur, multitūdinem, carrōs, fontēs, domōs, tabernās, forum cum statuīs, templīs, reliquīsque aedificiīs pūblicīs.

*orbita, -ae [1/f]: (wheel) rut i.e. a mark in the ground made by a wheel

[1] Identify the case of the words below and briefly explain why these cases are being used in the context of the passage:

[i] haec

[ii] mī

[iii] mihi

[iv] portā

[v] quae

[vi] tēcum

[vii] urbis

[2] Give an example from the text of a:

[i] deponent infinitive

[ii] perfect passive verb

[iii] perfect tense deponent verb

[iv] pluperfect verb

[v] present tense deponent verb

____________________

Part One

(1) petiit

(2) situs est

(3) pōnēbātur

(4) ōrnābātur

(5) cōnspicī

(6) poterant

(7) vehēbātur

(8) adpropinquāvit

(9) impellēbātur

(10) stābat

(11) erat

(12) cessāvērunt

(13) contendere

(14) contrāxērunt

(15) iēcērunt

(16) egressus est

(17) properāvit

(18) excēpērunt

(19) fuērunt

Part Two

Postrīdiē eius diēī ¦ Lentulus fīliō suō dīxit | On the day after that (1) ¦ Lentulus said to his son (1)

Venī, mī Pūblī, mēcum. | “Come with me, my Publius.” (1)

Pompēiōs iter hodiē faciam. | “Today I shall go / journey to Pompeii.” (1)

Māter tua suādet ¦ ut frūctūs et cibāria emam. | “Your mother advises” (1) ¦ “that I buy fruit and provisions.” (1)

Namque plūrēs amīcōs ad cēnam vocāvimus ¦ et multīs rēbus egēmus. | “For we have invited several friends to dinner” (1) ¦ “and we need many things.” (1)

Ea hortātur ¦ ut quam prīmum proficīscāmur. | “She urges us” (1) ¦ “to set out as soon as possible.” (1)

Part Three

[1]

[i] haec

case: accusative

reason: agrees with saxa, which is governed by the preposition inter

[ii] mī

case: vocative

reason: direct address

[iii] mihi

case: dative

reason: indirect object with grātum est; pleasing to me

[iv] portā

case: ablative

reason: means by which; by / through the gate

[v] quae

case: nominative

reason: subject of erant; referring to saxa

[vi] tēcum

case: ablative

reason: governed by the preposition cum

[vii] urbis

case: genitive

reason: possession; walls of the city

[2]

[i] proficīscī

[ii] vectī sunt

[iii] ingressī sunt

[iv] fēcerant

[v] mīrātur

26.10.26: topic; architecture [12]; Comenius (1658) LXXIII; The Stove with the Bedroom.

The aim of the Comenius texts is to allow you to talk in Latin about things around you. As always, speaking the language reinforces vocabulary by putting it into context, but specifically contexts that apply to our world. We will work through Comenius’ 17^th century description of a bedroom and compare the vocabulary to its interpretation both in the ancient world and how it is specifically applied in Neo-Latin with links to the Neo-Latin Lexicon.

The Stove with the bedroom | Hypocaustum cum dormītōriō.

The stove, | Hypocaustum, (1)

is beautified | ornātur

with an arched roof, | laqueārī, (2)

and wainscoted walls | & tabulātīs parietibus (3).

It is enlightened | Īllūminātur

with windows | fenestrīs (4).

It is heated | Calefit

with an oven | fornāce (5).

Its utensils are | Eius ūtēnsilia sunt

benches, | scamna (6)

stools, | sellae (7)

tables, | mēnsae (8)

with tressels, | cum fulcrīs (9)

footstools, | ac scabellīs (10)

and cushions | & culcitrīs (11).

There are also tapestries | Appenduntur etiam

hanged | tapetēs (12).

For soft lodging | Prō levī cubātū,

in a sleeping-room, | in dormitōriō (13)

there is a bed, | est lectus (cubīle) (14)

spread on a bed-stead, | strātus in spondā (15)

upon a straw-pad, | super strāmentum (16)

with sheets, | cum lodicibus (17)

and cover-lids (coverlets) | & strāgulīs (18).

The bolster, | Cervīcāl (19)

is under one’s head | est sub capite.

The bed is covered | Lectus tegitur

with a canopy | canopeō (20).

A chamber-pot, | Matula (21)

is for making water in | est vesicae levandae.

[i]

dormītōrium, -ī [2/n]: sleeping room; dormitory

laquear, -āris [3/n]: panelled ceiling, but can also refer (as here) to an arched / vaulted ceiling

[ii]

supellex, supellectilis [3/f]: domestic utensils; furniture

ūtēnsilia, -ium [3/n/pl]: things for use e.g. utensils, supplies, equipment

[iii]

fornāx, -cis [3/f]: furnace; oven; kiln

hypocaustum, -ī [2/n]: “stove”, referring to a heated room; see “topic; architecture [10]; Comenius (1658) LXXII; partēs domūs (1)” 

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2026/04/191026-topic-architecture-10-comenius.html

[iv]

mēnsa, -ae [1/f]: table

scabellum, -ī [2/n]: footstool

scamnum, -ī [2/n]: bench; footstool; the noun can refer to a long bench e.g. a pew in a church

sella, -ae [1/f]: seat; chair

matula, -ae [1/f]: [i] a vessel for holding liquids; [ii] chamber pot

Note: the word was also a term of abuse, meaning “simpleton” or “idiot”

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Thesaurus:homo_stultus#Latin

[v]

cubīle, -is [2/n]: bed

lectus, -ī [2/m]: bed

https://neolatinlexicon.org/latin/bed/

sponda, -ae [1/f]: bed-stead

https://neolatinlexicon.org/latin/bed__bedstead/

[vi]

strāmentum, -ī [2/n]: in general, the word refers to anything that is spread on the ground, especially straw, but could also apply to bedding hence a straw mattress which the translator gives as “straw-pad”

culcita, or culcitra, -ae [1/f]:   pillow, cushion; mattress, bedding,

https://neolatinlexicon.org/latin/mattress/

[vii]

cervīcal(e), -ālis [3/n]: pillow, cushion, bolster < cervīx, -cis [3/f]: neck; nape of the neck

pulvīnus, -ī [2/m]: pillow, cushion, bolster < pulvis, pulveris [3/n]: dust; powder i.e. referring to the filling of the pillow

https://neolatinlexicon.org/latin/pillow/

[viii]

linteum, -ī [2/n]: bed sheet

lōdīx, -cis [3/f]: sheet; blanket; rug (as a bed covering)

strāgulum, -ī [2/n]: bedspread

all listed at: https://neolatinlexicon.org/latin/bedcover__sheet/

[ix]

cōnōpēum, -ī [2/n]: [i] mosquito net; [ii] canopy

tapēte, -is [3/n]: cloth (decorative), used as a carpet, or (as in the text) for wall hangings; in another section of Comenius’ work, he uses the noun to refer to the cover for a banqueting table.