Sunday, April 5, 2026

17.09.26: Level 3 / 3+ (Review); Hillard & Botting [60] Labours of Hercules (1)

[1] Complete the Latin text with the words given below:

(1) Among the ancient gods (2) no one is (3) more known today (4) than Hercules, the son of Jupiter, (5) about (6) whom (7) many and wonderful stories have been (8) handed down.

(1) __________ deōs antīquōs (2) __________  (3) __________  hodiē nōtus est (4) __________  Iovis fīlius Herculēs, (5) __________  (6) __________  fabulae (7) __________  et mīrae (8) __________  sunt.

trāditae; quō; quam; nēmō; multae; magis; inter; dē

[2] Vī corporis et hominibus et deōbus omnibus praestābat. Paucōs annōs mēnse nātus, dum in cūnīs iacet, in maximum perīculum vēnit: nam Iūnō, quae semper eī inimīcissima erat, duōs serpentēs contrā eum mīsit; suīs autem manibus duōs īnfāns faucēs eōrum ēlīsit.

How does the writer emphasise Hercules’ strength? (6)

[3] Posteā, quod Iūnō mentem eius aliēnāverat, suōs ipse līberōs occīdit. Magnō tum dolōre ultrō in exilium discessit; mox ad Apollinis ōrāculum vēnit ibique auxilium ā deō petīvit. Ab eō iussus est rēgī cuidam Eurystheō duodecim annōs parēre:

In which order are the following first referred to?

voluntary exile _____

seeking a god’s assistance _____

obeying a king _____

killing children _____

driven mad _____

a god’s command _____

[4] Translate:

“Tum dēnique,” inquit deus, “immortālis eris.” Ab hōc rēge Iūnōnis iussū coāctus est Herculēs duodecim labōrēs peragere. (6)

Vocabulary

cūnae, -ārum [1/f/pl]: cradle

ēlīdō, -ere, ēlīsī, ēlīsus [3]: crush

faucēs, -ium [3/f/pl]: throat

mēns, mentis [3/f]: mind

mentem aliēnō, -āre [1]: drive mad / insane

occīdō, occīdere, occīdī, occīsus [3]: kill

pareō, parēre, paruī, — [2]: obey

peragō, peragere, perēgī, perāctus [3]: carry out, complete

petō, petere, petīvī, petītus [3]: seek

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

____________________

[1]

Inter deōs antīquōs nēmō magis hodiē nōtus est quam Iovis fīlius Herculēs, dē quō fabulae multae et mīrae trāditae sunt.

[2]

superior in strength to all men and gods (1)

strength evident even when a baby / when he was still in his cradle (1)

threatened by two snakes (1) sent by Juno (1)

throttled them (1) with his hands / i.e. no weapons (1)

[3]

voluntary exile [3]

seeking a god’s assistance [4]

obeying a king [6]

killing children [2]

driven mad [1]

a god’s command [5]

[4]

“Then at last,” said the god (1), “you will be immortal (1).” By this king (1), at the command of Juno (1), Hercules was compelled (1) to carry out twelve labours (1).

____________________

Among the ancient gods no one is more known today than Hercules, the son of Jupiter, about whom many and wonderful stories have been handed down. In strength of body he excelled both men and all the gods. A few months old, when he was lying in his cradle, he came into the greatest danger: for Juno, who was always most hostile to him, sent two snakes against him; but the infant with his own hands crushed the throats of them. Afterwards, because Juno had driven his mind mad, he himself killed his own children. Then, in great grief, he went away into exile of his own accord; soon he came to the oracle of Apollo and there sought help from the god. By him he was ordered to serve a certain king, Eurystheus, for twelve years: “Then at last,” said the god, “you will be immortal.” By this king, at the command of Juno, Hercules was compelled to carry out twelve labours.

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