31.07.24: Level 1; Ora Maritima [6](3)

 

Agellus patruī meī in Cantiō est, inter Dubrās et Rutupiās situs. Dubrae et Rutupiae oppida antīqua sunt. Multa sunt monumenta antīqua in Britanniā, multa vestīgia Rōmānōrum. Reliquiae villārum, oppidōrum, amphitheātrōrum Rōmānōrum hodiē exstant. Multae viae Rōmānae in Britanniā sunt.

In Cantiō est via Rōmāna inter Rutupiās et Londinium. Solum Britannicum multōs nummōs aureōs, argenteōs, aēneōs et Britannōrum et Rōmānōrum occultat. Rusticīs nummī saepe sunt causa lucrī, cum arant vel fundāmenta aedificiōrum antīquōrum excavant. Nam nummōs antīquōs magnō pretiō vēnumdant. Patruō meō magnus numerus est nummōrum Rōmānōrum.

Vocabulary

Dubrae, -ārum [1/f/pl]: Dover

Rutupiae, -ārum [1/f/pl]: Richborough

exstō, -āre [1]: exist

occultō, -āre [1]: hide

reliquiae, -ārum [1/f/pl]: remains

vēnumdō, -āre [1]: sell

Notes

[1] The text reviews neuter nouns in the 2^nd declension:

lucrum, -ī [2/n]: profit

monumentum, -ī [2/n]: monument

oppidum, -ī [2/n]: town

solum, -ī [2/n]: soil

aedificium, -ī [2/n]: building

amphitheātrum, -ī [2/n]:

Cantium, -ī [2/n]: promontory in England; now Kent

Londinium, -ī [2/n]: London

pretium, -ī [2/n]: price

vestigium, -ī [2/n]: trace

[2] The use of the dative to express:

[i] to whom something is of benefit

• Rusticīs nummī saepe sunt causa lucrī │ The coins are often a source of profit for the countryfolk.

[ii] possession

• Patruō meō magnus numerus est ¦ nummōrum Rōmānōrum. │[Literally: To my uncle (there is a large number) = My uncle has a large number ¦ of Roman coins.

[3] The use of the ablative to express the price for which something is sold.

• Nam nummōs antīquōs magnō pretiō vēnumdant. │ For they sell the ancient coins for / at a high price.

[4] A number of towns in Latin are in the plural:

• Dubrae: Dover
• Rutupiae: Richborough

Therefore, they will decline as plural nouns:

• inter Dubrās et Rutupiās

The most well-known of these types of plural place names is Athēnae (Athens).