27.01.25: H & B; level 2; reading; the capture of Veii

Etrūscī ōlim terrā marīque magnam potentiam habuerant: tum ā Graecīs nāvēs dēlētae, ā Samnītibus agrī vastātī erant: posteā simul ā Gallīs et ā Rōmānīs bellō vexābantur. Urbs Veiī diū ā Rōmānīs obsīdēbātur: prīmō Etrūscī nōn sōlum urbem dēfendēbant sed etiam ingentem timōrem inter Rōmānōs mōvērunt. Itaque M. Fūrius Camillus dictātor creātus est: Camillī cōnsiliō mīlitēs cunīculum sub terrā ad arcem urbis ēgerunt. Intereā rēx Veientium dīs immortālibus immolābat. ‘Sī dīs, Ō rēx,’ inquit sacerdōs, ‘ hostiam immolābis, dī victōriam in bellō dabunt.’ Sacerdōtis verba Rōmānī audīvērunt: aliquot mīlitēs ē cunīculō veniunt, hostiam ad dictātōrem portant: Camillus dīs immolāvit. Simul ex omnī parte urbis mūrī ā Rōmānīs oppugnābantur: aliī arcem per cunīculum intrāvērunt.

Camillus propter victōriam triumphum ēgit: posteā tamen, quod plēbēiōrum īram mōverat, falsō crīmine ā tribūnīs accūsātus est. ‘Nōn mē iūdicēs damnābunt,’ inquit; ‘ultrō in exsilium discēdam; sī innocēns accūsor, cīvitās ingrāta mox dēsīderābit.’

arx, arcis [3/f]: citadel

cunīculus, -ī [2/m]: (underground) tunnel; mine

dēsiderō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: (here) miss; feel the need of

hostia, -ae [1/f]: sacrifice

ultrō: (here) of one’s accord; voluntarily

Vēiī, -ōrum [1/m/pl]: Veii, an Etruscan city

[A]

[1] Lines 1 – 2 (Etrūscī … vexābantur )

1. Which Latin phrase tells you that the Etruscans’ power and influence was wide-ranging? (1)
2. Which four nations caused the Etruscans to lose power? (4)

[2] Lines 3 – 4 (Urbs … movērunt)

1. How do we know that the capture of the city of Veii was not achieved quickly? (4)
2. What did Camillus advise the soldiers to do? (3)

[3] Lines 5 – 7 (Intereā … dabunt)

What was the king of Veii doing? Who advised him to do this and why? (4)

[4] Lines 7 – 8 (Sacerdōtis … immolāvit)

Which four of the following statements are true? (4)

1. A sacrifice was brought to Camillus.
2. An enemy was taken to the dictator.
3. Camillus made a sacrifice.
4. The gods sacrificed Camillus.
5. The priests heard the Romans.
6. The Romans came out of the tunnel.
7. The Romans heard the priests.
8. The Romans went into the tunnel.

[5] Lines 9 – 10 (Simul … intrāvērunt)

Give details about the attack (6); [i] Simul ¦ [ii] ex omnī parte ¦ [iii] urbis mūrī [iv] ā Rōmānīs oppugnābantur: ¦ [v] aliī arcem ¦ [vi] per cunīculum intrāvērunt.

[6] Lines 11 – end (Camillus … dēsīderābit)

1. What did Camillus do after the city had been captured? (1)
2. How did Camillus’ fortunes change afterwards? (2)
3. True or false: Camillus was sent into exile by the judges (1)
4. sī innocēns accūsor, cīvitās ingrāta mox dēsīderābit: What did Camillus think would soon happen? (2)

[B] Find the Latin for the passive verbs

• I am accused
• (He) was falsely accused
• (He) was elected / made
• (the city) was being besieged
• (They) were being attacked
• (They) were being harassed / troubled
• The ships had been destroyed … the fields (had been) laid waste

[C] Identify the tense of the following verbs from the text

• dabunt
• dēfendēbant
• discēdam
• ēgit
• habuerant
• immolābat
• mōverat
• mōvērunt
• portant
• veniunt

[D] Why might the city of Veii have been a target for Roman attack? Consider, for example, geographical location, resources, trade, military strategy and expansionism because motives such as these are by no means confined to the attack on Veii.

https://www.historyskills.com/classroom/ancient-history/war-with-veii/