29.03.26: Level 1; topic (review); pets [3]; the real “cavē canem”

Cavē canem! │ Beware (of) the dog.

It’s a handy phrase to remember the accusative case of 3^rd declension nouns: one phrase does the trick.

[image #1]: Cavē canem is most powerfully seen in Pompeii, at the entrance to houses. But there’s a terrifying irony because [image #2] one of those dogs – who was chained - never made it out when Vesuvius erupted in AD79. He had protected his master, but couldn’t protect himself.

[image #3] Snakes were regarded as good omens and are often depicted in the larārium, an ancient Roman household shrine dedicated to the guardian spirits of the home, known as the larēs. This particular lararium is in Pompeii – and the snake didn’t protect them.

[image #4]: Bacchus and the serpent, protecting the grapes, and, in the background, Mount Vesuvius which obliterated them.

So much for good omens. However great we think the Romans were – and however great they said they were – they weren’t greater than Vesuvius. 

[image #5] All their money, their power, their influence and fancy villas – and their differences in social status – were smothered and incinerated.

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