26.08.25: H & B; level 2; reading; An Ancient Sorceress

Ulixēs cum comitibus ōlim ad īnsulam Aeaeam nāvigāvit: habitābat in eā īnsulā Circē, dea propter artem magicam nōtissima. Ulixēs prīmō in ōra manēbat, comitum nōnnūllōs in interiōrem partem īnsulae mīsit. Ex hīs Euryldechus sōlus ad ducem revertit. ‘Magnum nōs perīculum manet in hāc īnsulā,’ inquit; ‘vix ā tē discesserāmus ubi magnam domum in mediā silvā vīdimus: prope portās errābant multa animālia, neque tamen nōs oppugnābant. Tum domō excessit fēmina, vel dea, pulcherrima: verbīs nōs dulcibus compellāvit et cibum dedit: tum comitēs meōs repente virgā ferit et in suēs vertit. Ego sōlus domum nōn intrāveram, sōlus ad tē revertī.” Tum Ulixēs ad locum statim prōperāvit: occurrit in itinere Mercurius. ‘Frūstrā tū,’ inquit, ‘homō contrā deam pugnābis: meō tamen auxiliō incolumis eris. Tum herbam magicam dedit et multa monēbat. Itaque nōn sōlum sibi sed comitibus salūtem comparāvit: nam Circē frūstrā contrā Ulixem artēs exercuit et comitibus fōrmam hūmānam reddidit.

[1] Lines 1 – 4; translate into English (15)*:

Ulixēs cum comitibus ōlim ad īnsulam Aeaeam nāvigāvit: habitābat in eā īnsulā Circē, dea propter artem magicam nōtissima. Ulixēs prīmō in ōra manēbat, comitum nōnnūllōs in interiōrem partem īnsulae mīsit. Ex hīs Euryldechus sōlus ad ducem revertit.

[2] Lines 4 – 8 [Magnum … revertī] Complete this summary of the main points with a single word for each blank (14):

[i] There was a great __________ on this island.

[ii] There was a large house in the __________ of the __________.

[iii] Many __________ were __________ near the house but they did not __________.

[iv] A very __________ woman or __________ came out of the house.

[v] She addressed the men with __________ words and gave them __________.

[vi] Circe turned the men into __________ with a __________.

[vii] Euryldechus did not __________ the house and only Euryldechus _________.

[3] Lines 8 – end [Tum Ulixēs … reddidit]

[i] What did Ulysses immediately do? (1)

[ii] Who did he meet on the way? (1)

[iii] What is the meaning of frūstrā and why is it appropriate in the context of lines 9 - 10? (2)

[iv] meō tamen auxiliō incolumis eris

How was Ulysses helped? (2)

[v] How does the story end? Give details (5) [Itaque [i] nōn sōlum sibi ¦ [ii] sed comitibus [iii] salūtem comparāvit: nam [iv] Circē frūstrā contrā Ulixem artēs exercuit et [v] comitibus fōrmam hūmānam reddidit.]

[4] Identify the case of the words in bold and explain why it is being used:

[i] domō excessit fēmina

[ii] verbīs nōs dulcibus compellāvit

[iii] nōn sōlum sibi sed comitibus salūtem comparāvit

[4] Identify the tenses of the verbs in bold and explain why it is being used:

vix ā tē [i] discesserāmus ubi magnam domum in mediā silvā [ii] vīdimus: prope portās [iii] errābant multa animālia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeaea

Map of Italy with Aeaea marked south of Rome (Abraham Ortelius, 1624): Aeaea insula, quae Circes domicilium

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circe

"Circea" in Boccaccio's c. 1365 De Claris Mulieribus, a catalogue of famous women, from a 1474 edition

A 19th century painting by John William Waterhouse depicting the sorceress Circe of Homer's Odyssey

____________________

*[i] At one time [ii] Ulysses sailed [iii] with his companions [iv] to the island of Aeaea: [v] on that island [vi] lived Circe, [vii] a goddess very well-known [viii] on account of (her) skill in magic. [ix] At first [x] Ulysses remained on the shore [xi] (and) sent some / several of (his) companions [xii] into the inner part of the island. [xiii] Of these [xiv] only Euryldechus / Euryldechus alone returned [xv] to the commander.

11.08.25: H & B; level 2; reading; The First Punic War (264-241 B.C.)

Tyriī ōlim in Āfricā haud procul ab Hispāniā colōniam collocāverant magnamque urbem, Carthāginem nōmine, aedificāverant: huius urbis incolae Poenī vocābantur. Hī per mercātūram magnās dīvitiās comparāvērunt fīnitimōsque populōs imperiō suō adiūnxērunt: urbem ingentibus mūrīs mūnīverant templīsque pulcherrimīs ōrnāverant. Multa in historiā dē illīus gentis crūdēlitāte nārrantur: ducēs, sī in bellō vīctī erant, sine misericordiā occīdēbant; īnfantēs suōs dīs immolābant. Omnium iam populōrum Rōmānī et Poenī potentissimī erant: inter aemulās gentēs causa bellī mox invenītur. In Siciliā Hierō, rēx Syrācūsārum, Māmertīnōs obsīdēbat: Rōmānī ad Māmertīnōs, Poenī ad Hierōnem auxilium mīsērunt. Tum Hierō pācem amīcitiamque cum Rōmānīs cōnfirmāvit, Poenī sōlī cum Rōmānīs bellum gerēbant ōramque Ītaliae nāvibus vastābant.

adiungō, -ere, adiunxī, adiunctus [3]: add, join [+ dative]: populōs imperiō suō adiūnxērunt

Mamertīnī: Mamertines

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamertines

Tyrius, -a, -um: Tyrian; of Tyre

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyre,_Lebanon

[1] Lines 1 – 4; translate into English (13)*

Tyriī ōlim in Āfricā haud procul ab Hispāniā colōniam collocāverant magnamque urbem, Carthāginem nōmine, aedificāverant: huius urbis incolae Poenī vocābantur. Hī per mercātūram magnās dīvitiās comparāvērunt fīnitimōsque populōs imperiō suō adiūnxērunt: urbem ingentibus mūrīs mūnīverant templīsque pulcherrimīs ōrnāverant.

[2] Lines 5 – 6 (ducēs … immolābant) How did the Carthaginians treat [i] conquered leaders, and [ii] the children? (4)

[3] Lines 6 – 7: Omnium iam populōrum Rōmānī et Poenī potentissimī erant.

Identify the case and number of the words in bold and explain why it is being used. (2)

[4] Lines 7 – end (inter aemulās … vastābant)

Which of the following statements are true?

Neighbouring nations were already at war.

Rivalry was the reason for war.

Hiero was the king of Syracuse.

Hiero was the king of the Mamertines.

The Mamertines beseiged the Romans.

Hiero besieged the Mamertines.

The Romans sent help to Hiero.

The Romans sent help to the Mamertines.

The Carthaginians sent help to Hiero.

Hiero and the Carthaginians made peace with the Romans.

Hiero made peace with the Romans.

Only the Carthaginians made peace with the Romans.

The Carthaginians waged war with the Romans.

The Carthaginian infantry attacked the Romans.

Roman cities were laid waste.

The Carthaginian fleet destroyed the Italian coast.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Punic_War

An aerial photograph of the remains of the naval base of the city of Carthage. The remains of the mercantile harbour are in the centre and those of the military harbour are bottom right. Before the war Carthage had the most powerful navy in the western Mediterranean. (The Oxford History of the Classical World, 1986)

____________________

*[i] At one time, [ii] the Tyrians had placed a colony in Africa [iii] far from Spain and [iv] had built a great city [v] by the name of Carthage, and [vi] the inhabitants of this city were called Carthaginians. [vii] They / these people obtained great wealth / riches [viii] through trade / commerce and [ix] joined the neighbouring nations to their own empire: [x] they fortified the city [xi] with huge walls and [xii] decorated (it) [xiii] with very beautiful temples.

08.08.25: H & B; level 2; reading; ancient robbers

Thēseus, praeter alia facta īnsignissima, maximam sibi fāmam comparāvit quod latrōnēs propter crūdēlītātem nōtōs Procrūstēm, Scīrōnem, Sinōnem occiderat. Procrūstēs, sī forte advenam vī superāverat, eum nōn sōlum spoliābat sed ad lectum dēligābat: tum sī hominis īnfēlīcis corpus brevius erat quam lectus, membra eius ad idōneam longitūdinem tendēbat; contrā sī brevior lectus erat quam corpus, pedēs vel partem membrōrum gladiō abscīdēbat. Scīrōn in saxō altissimō sedēbat. Eius iussū viātōrēs pedēs latrōnis lavābant; dum lavant, Scīrōn ictū pedis in mare dēmittēbat. Sinōn verticem arboris ad terram flectēbat: captīvī caput ad verticem, pedēs ad truncum dēligābat: tum repente verticem remittēbat.

[1] Lines 1 – 2; translate into English (7):

Thēseus, praeter alia facta īnsignissima, maximam sibi fāmam comparāvit quod latrōnēs propter crūdēlītātem nōtōs Procrūstēm, Scīrōnem, Sinōnem occiderat.*

[2] To which of the following characters does each statement refer?

[A] Procrūstēs

[B] Scīrōn

[C] Sinōn

throwing into the sea

bending a tree-top

giving a command

stretching

using a sword

robbing

releasing the tree-top

shorter body

sitting on a rock

tying to a bed

tying head to a tree-top

cutting off feet

kicking

tying feet to a tree trunk

washing feet

shorter bed

[3] Find the Latin:

by chance

by force

on his command

with a kick [= with a blow of the foot]

[4] Procrustean bed: concept referring to a rigid standard or scheme into which something or someone is forcibly and arbitrarily made to fit, often at the expense of their individual characteristics or natural form.

Referring to the story, explain in your own words the origin of the term ‘Procrustean bed’. (6)**

____________________

*[1]: [i] Theseus, [ii] apart from (his) other [iii] very famous / remarkable deeds, [i] obtained the greatest fame [iv] for himself [v] because he had killed robbers [vi] [who were] well-known [vii] on account of their cruelty: Procrustes, Sciron (and) Sinon.

**[4]: [i] Procrustes tied victims to a bed. [ii] If the body was shorter than the bed, [iii] he would stretch it to the suitable length. [iv] If the body was longer, [v] he cut off the feet or part of the limbs [vi] with a sword.

05.05.25: Level 2; review; Hillard and Botting (H & B); review sentences [H]

[a] Complete the Latin with the verbs in the first wordcloud.

[b] Supply the missing words and endings from the second wordcloud; some words and endings are used more than once

1. The inhabitants of Italy had always loved the fatherland. │Incolae Ītali_____ semper patri_____ __________.
2. The foreigners conspired against Italy on account of envy. │ Advenae contrā Ītaliam __________ invidiam __________.
3. The inhabitants of Italy wounded the foreigners with arrows. │Incolae Ītaliae adven_____ sagitt_____ vulnerāvērunt.
4. They put to flight / chased away the foreigners out of the country. │ __________ terr_____ advenās __________.
5. They wander far and wide through Greece. │ Lāt_____ per Graeciam __________.
6. Tomorrow they will sail to Asia. │ __________ ad Asiam __________.
7. Again they will conspire against the inhabitants. │ __________ contrā incolās __________.
8. Again the inhabitants will attack the foreigners with arrows. │ __________ incolae advenās sagittīs __________.
9. Finally they will conquer the foreigners. │ Tandem advenās __________.
10. Again, they will chase the foreigners away out of the country. │ __________ __________ terr_____ advenās fugābunt.

amāverant; coniūrābunt; coniūrāvērunt; errant; fugābunt; fugāvērunt; nāvigābunt; oppugnābunt; superābunt; vulnerāvērunt

-ā; -ae; -am; -ās; crās; ē; -ē; -īs; iterum; propter

02.05.25: Level 2; review; Hillard and Botting (H & B); review sentences [G]

Complete the Latin translations with the words in the wordcloud.

1. He had once lived in Asia. │ In Asiā ōlim __________.
2. He always used to love the fatherland. │ Patriam semper __________.
3. The strangers stormed Troy. │ Advenae Troiam __________.
4. He used to wander far from the fatherland. │ __________ __________  patriā __________.
5. He finally sailed to Italy with the strangers. │ Tandem in Ītaliam __________ advenīs __________.
6. He fought against the inhabitants. │ __________ incolās __________.
7. They gained fame there. │Fāmam __________ __________.
8. Fame will always last among the inhabitants of Greece and Italy. │ Fāma semper inter incolās Graeciae et Ītaliae __________.
9. Today we love the fatherland. │ Hodiē patriam __________.
10. We will always love the fatherland. │ Semper patriam __________.

ā; amābat; amābimus; amāmus; comparāvērunt; contrā; cum; dūrābit; errābat; expugnāvērunt; habitāverat; ibi; nāvigāvit; procul; pugnāvit

29.04.25: Level 2; review; Hillard and Botting (H & B); review sentences [F]

I’ve broken these verbs! Which parts are missing?

1. For a long time I used to rule among the inhabitants of Greece. │Diū inter incolās Graeciae rēgnā_____.
2. I prepared the troops and I sailed to Asia. │ Cōpiās parāv_____ et in Asiam nāvig_____.
3. We fought there near Troy for a long time. │ Ibi diū prope Troiam pugnāv_____.
4. We gained fame in Asia. │ Fāmam in Asiā comparā_____.
5. We had often attacked Troy. │ Saepe Troiam oppugnāv_____.
6. We had often almost conquered the inhabitants of Asia. │ Saepe incolās Asiae prope superā_____.
7. Finally we took Troy by assault. │ Tandem Troiam expugnāvi_____.
8. Fame in Asia will last a long time. │ Diū in Asiā fāma dūrā_____.
9. Fame will always have lasted in Greece. │ Semper in Graeciā fāma dūrāv_____.
10. We shall have gained fame far and wide through Italy. │ Lātē per Ītaliam fāmam comparāv_____.

-āvī; -bam; -bit; -erāmus; -erimus; -erit; -ī; -imus; -mus; -verāmus; -vimus

27.04.25: Level 2; review; Hillard and Botting (H & B); review sentences [E]

Back in 1911, this poor student had a seriously bad verb day! Not one of the translations is correct mainly because he doesn’t identify the tenses correctly but there are also some other errors. Maybe he rushed this because he’d forgotten to do his homework and would face the wrath of the teacher. Judging by his answers, he still wouldn’t have avoided a board rubber thrown in his directon! Can you help him out with the correct translations?

1. In Asiā saepe pugnāverās. │ You often fight / had often fought / have often fought in Asia.
2. Advenae Troiam saepe oppugnāverant. │ Foreigners had often attacked / have often attacked / will often attack Troy.
3. Semper cum advenīs pugnāverās. │ You always used to fight / you always fought / you had always fought with foreigners.
4. Advenās prope superāvistī. │ You (sg.) / You (pl.) / We have almost conquered the foreigners.
5. Tandem Troiam expugnāvērunt. │ Finally they will conquer / they conquered / they will have conquered Troy.
6. Diū inter incolās Asiae errābās. │For a long time you used to wander / you had wandered / he used to wander among the inhabitants of Asia.
7. Tandem ad Ītaliam nāvigāvistī. │ Finally you sail / are sailing / have sailed to Italy.
8. Ibi fāmam inter incolās comparāvistī. │ There he / you / we gained fame among the inhabitants.
9. Aeneadae Rōmam aedificāverint. │ The descendants of Aeneas will have built / had built / have built Rome.
10. Semper Rōmae fāma dūrābit. │ The fame of Rome will always last / will always have lasted / always lasts.

24.04.25: Level 2; review; Hillard and Botting (H & B); review sentences [D]

Complete the translation by choosing the correct form of the Latin words.

[1] At one time I used to fight in Asia. │Ōlim in [i] __________ [ii] __________.

[i] Asiā / Asia / Asiae

[ii] pugnābō / pugnō / pugnābam

[2] They often used to attack Troy. │ [iii] __________ Troiam [iv] __________.

[iii] semper / saepe / interdum

[iv] oppugnant / oppugnabunt / oppugnābant

[3] They finally took Troy by storm. │ [v] __________ Troiam [vi] __________.

[v] tandem / tamen / autem

[vi] expugnāvērunt / expugnāverant / expugnāverint

[4] I used to wander far and wide through Asia. │Lātē per [vii] __________ [viii] __________.

[vii] Asiā / Asiam / Asiae

[viii] errābat / errābās / errābam

[5] I sailed to Italy. │ Ad [ix] __________ [x] __________.

[ix] Ītaliā / Ītaliae / Ītaliam

[x] nāvigāvī / nāvigāveram / navigābam

[6] I gained fame among the inhabitants of Italy. │ Inter [xi] __________ [xii] __________ fāmam [xiii] __________.

[xi] incolārum / incolīs / incolās

[xii] Ītaliā / Ītaliae / Ītaliam

[xiii] comparō / comparāvī / comparābam

[7] I was fighting in Italy for a long time. │Diū in [xiv] __________ [xv] __________.

[xiv] Ītaliā / Ītaliae / Ītaliam

[xv] pugnābam / pugnābāmus / pugnābitis

[8] Finally I conquered the inhabitants of Italy. │ Tandem incolās [xvi] __________ [xvii] __________.

[xvi] incolārum / incolās / incolīs

[xvii] Ītaliae / Ītalia / Ītaliam

[9] (My) fame will always last in Italy. │ [xviii] __________ fāma in Ītaliā [xix] __________.

[xviii] saepe / interdum / semper

[xix] dūrābit / dūrābat / dūrat

[10] The descendants of Aeneas will build Alba Longa. │ Aeneadae Albam Longam [xx] __________.

[xx] aedificābant / aedificābunt / aedificāvērunt

21.04.25: Level 2; review; Hillard and Botting (H & B); review sentences [C]

Complete the Latin translations with the words in the wordcloud; some words are used more than once.

1. At one time / in the past he used to reign in Greece. │ __________ in __________ __________.
2. He gained fame among the inhabitants. │ Inter incolās fāmam __________.
3. He prepared the troops. │ Cōpiās __________.
4. He sailed to Asia. │ Ad __________ __________.
5. He gained fame among the inhabitants of Asia. │Inter incolās __________ fāmam __________.
6. He attacked Troy. │ Troiam __________.
7. He finally conquered Troy. │ Tandem Troiam __________.
8. Afterwards he sailed to Greece. │__________ ad __________ __________.
9. Today he reigns among the inhabitants of Greece. │Hodiē inter incolās __________ __________.
10. (His) fame will always last in Greece. │ __________ in __________ fāma __________.

Asiae; Asiam; comparāvit; dūrābit; Graeciā; Graeciae; Graeciam; nāvigāvit; ōlim; oppugnāvit; parāvit; posteā; rēgnābat; rēgnat; semper; superāvit

Image #2: The student even puts a question mark! What mistakes have been made?

18.04.25: H & B; level 2; reading; chivalry in war

Rōmānīs, ubi cum Pyrrhō bellum gerēbant, praeerat Fābricius. Multa in historiā dē Fābriciō, multa dē Pyrrhō nārrantur. Ōlim trānsfuga ē Graecōrum exercitū ad castra Rōmāna vēnit: statim ad imperātōrem ductus est. ‘Via ad victōriam facillima Rōmānīs aperītur,’ inquit; ‘sī pecūniam mihi dabis, castra petam, rēgem venēnō necābō.’ Respondit Fābricius, ‘ingrātior erit nōbīs eiusmodī victōria quam miserrima clādēs: virtūte, nōn perfidiā, hostēs vincimus.’ Tum imperātōris iussū eum ad Graecōrum castra mīlitēs redūcunt tōtamque rem Pyrrhō nārrant. Mōvit rēgis animum Fābriciī līberālitās: statim omnēs captīvōs Rōmānīs sine pretiō reddidit. Contrā Rōmānī lēgātōs ad Pyrrhum mīsērunt. ‘Dē pāce,’ inquiunt, ‘Rōmānī cum hostibus, dum in Ītaliā sunt, nōn dissērunt: tibi tamen, virō omnium generōsissimō, libenter concēdimus indūtiās.’

[1] Lines 1 – 2 (Rōmānīs … narrāntur)

[i] What was the role of Fabricius in the war with Pyrrhus? (1)

[ii] How do we know about these two men? (1)

[2] Lines 2 – 4; translate into English (10)*:

Ōlim trānsfuga ē Graecōrum exercitū ad castra Rōmāna vēnit: statim ad imperātōrem ductus est. ‘Via ad victōriam facillima Rōmānīs aperītur,’ inquit; ‘sī pecūniam mihi dabis, castra petam, rēgem venēnō necābō.’

Note:

[i] word order; position of the genitive case: ē Graecōrum exercitū

[ii] What type of adjective is facillima?

[iii] tense usage (Latin / English): sī pecūniam mihi dabis, castra petam, rēgem venēnō necābō

Before you read the rest of the text, I suspect you know more than enough about Roman attitudes to guess what the commander’s reaction will be.

[3] Lines 5 – 6 (Respondit … vincimus)

Explain in your own words why Fabricius’s response reflects the title of the text. (3)**

[4] Lines 6 – 8 (Tum … reddidit)

[i] What command did Fabricius give? (2)

[ii] What action did the king take in return and why? (3)

[iii] Tum imperātōris iussū eum ad Graecōrum castra mīlitēs redūcunt tōtamque rem Pyrrhō nārrant.

[a] What tense is used here and why? (2)

[b] How is the phrase imperātōris iussū translated? (1)

[5] Lines 8 – end (Contrā … indūtiās)

[i] How did the Romans react to Pyrrhus’s actions? (1)

[ii] Why was their statement to Pyrrhus different on this occasion? (4)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Fabricius_Luscinus

Fabricius negotiating with Pyrrhus after Heraclea (Ferdinand Bol: 1656)

____________________

* [2] [i] A deserter ¦ [ii] from the Greek army [= the army of the Greeks] [i] once (at one time) ¦ [iii] to the Roman camp: ¦ [iv] he was immediately led to the commander. ¦ [v] “A very easy way / the easiest way to victory ¦ [vi] is (being) open(ed)  ¦ [vii] for the Romans,” he said ¦ [viii] “If you give [literally: will give] me money, ¦ [ix] I’ll make for the camp (and) ¦ [x] I will kill the king with poison.”

** [3] The Romans would only wish to win through military skills, physical strength and bravery rather than treachery; for Fabricius a victory without virtūs (virtue), that quintessential Roman characteristic, would be tantamount to defeat: virtūte, nōn perfidiā, hostēs vincimus.

18.04.25: Level 2; review; Hillard and Botting (H & B); review sentences [B]

Complete the Latin translations with the words in the wordcloud.

1. He wanders far and wide through Greece. │ __________ __________ Graeciam __________.
2. He gains fame among the inhabitants. │ __________ incolās fāmam __________.
3. He will prepare the troops. │ Cōpiās __________.
4. He will sail to Asia. │ __________ Asiam __________.
5. He will attack the inhabitants. │Incolās __________.
6. Finally he will conquer the inhabitants. │__________ incolās __________.
7. He will storm Troy.│Troiam __________
8. He will gain fame. │ Fāmam __________.
9. Today he reigns. │__________ __________.
10. For a long time he will reign. │ __________ __________.

ad; comparābit; comparat; diū; errat; expugnābit; hodiē; inter; lātē; nāvigābit; oppugnābit; parābit; per; rēgnābit; rēgnat; superābit; tandem

Image #2: None of us get everything right the first time! Although I have a hard copy of this book, the only online copy I could find often has pencil annotations and so I spend quite a lot of time on my old paint.net programme! Whoever wrote the answers a century ago was way off, especially in the first sentence: “He was happy for Greece”, but why does the student think [i] the word late is ‘happy’ and [ii] errat is 'was'?

15.04.25: H & B; level 2; reading; the judgement of Paris

Deī ōlim, quod Peleus Thetin deam in mātrimōnium dūcēbat, magnum convīvium celebrābant. Dī deaeque omnēs ad cēnam vocantur, praeter Discordiam: itaque īrāta dea pōmum in mediam turbam iactāvit; in pōmō īnscrīpta erant verba ‘Pulcherrimae deae mūnus pōmum mittitur.’ Statim maxima fuit inter Iūnōnem, Minervam, Venerem rixa: rēs Paridis arbitriō mandāta est. Paris, rēgis Troiānī Priamī fīlius, ovēs tum in monte Īdaeō pāscēbat. Ad montem veniunt deae: puerī animum prōmissīs conciliant. Iūnō magnās dīvitiās, Minerva bellī fāmam, Venus pulcherrimam omnium uxōrem prōmittit. Venerī dat Paris pōmum: Veneris auxiliō ad Graeciam nāvigāvit, mox cum Helenā, rēgis Menelāī uxōre, omnium tum fēminārum pulcherrima, ad patriam revertit. Tum Menelāus cum Agamemnone frātre plūrimās nāvēs parāvit, ad Asiam nāvigāvit, urbem Trōiam obsīdēbat decemque post annōs expugnāvit.

[1] Lines 1 – 4 (Deō … rixa)

[i] Why had the gods organised a party? (2)

[ii] Who was [a] invited and [b] not invited to the party? (2)

[iii] What did Discordia do and why? (3)

[iv] What was written on the apple? (3)

[v] What happened as a result of this? (2)

[2] Lines 5 – 6 (rēs … pāscēbat)

[i] What was the role of Paris in this event? (1)

[ii] Who was Paris? (2)

[iii] What was Paris doing at this point? (2)

[3] Lines 6 – 8 (Ad montem … pōmum)

[i] What promises were made to Paris by [a] Juno [b] Minerva, and [c] Venus? (3)

[ii] To whom did Paris give the apple? (1)

[4] Lines 8 – end; translate into English (14)*:

Veneris auxiliō ad Graeciam nāvigāvit, mox cum Helenā, rēgis Menelāī uxōre, omnium tum fēminārum pulcherrima, ad patriam revertit. Tum Menelāus cum Agamemnone frātre plūrimās nāvēs parāvit, ad Asiam nāvigāvit, urbem Trōiam obsīdēbat decemque post annōs expugnāvit.

[5] Identify the case of the nouns in bold and explain why that case is being used**.

[i] pōmum in mediam turbam iactāvit (2)

[ii] pulcherrimae deae mūnus pōmum mittitur (2)

[iii] rēs Paridis arbitriō mandāta est (2)

[iv] puerī animum prōmissīs conciliant (2)

[v] omnium tum fēminārum pulcherrima (2)

[vi] cum Agamemnone frātre (2)

The beginning of Rome is lost in the mists of time, but that has not prevented the creation of a narrative rooted in Greek mythology which provides a sequence of events that eventually lead to the foundation of Rome.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judgement_of_Paris

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_War

Judgement of Paris, fresco from Pompeii

Golden Apple of Discord by Jacob Jordaens (1636)

____________________

* [i] With the help of Venus ¦ [ii] he sailed to Greece ¦ [iii] (and) soon returned ¦ [iv] to the fatherland with Helen ¦ [vi] the wife of King Menelaus ¦ [vii] the most beautiful ¦ [viii] of all women at that time. ¦ [ix] Then with (his) brother Agamemnon ¦ [x] he prepared very many / a great number of ships, ¦ [xi] sailed to Asia ¦ [xii] besieged the city of Troy ¦ [xiii] and after ten years ¦ [xiv] took (it) by storm / captured (it).

** [5]

[i] pōmum in mediam turbam iactāvit │ [i] accusative; [ii] with preposition in + accusative = movement into a place

[ii] pulcherrimae deae mūnus pōmum mittitur │ [i] dative; [ii] indirect object or the person for whose benefit the action is done

[iii] rēs Paridis arbitriō mandāta est │ [i] genitive; [ii] referring to the possessor i.e. the judgement of Paris

[iv] puerī animum prōmissīs conciliant │[i] ablative; [ii] here: the ablative of means by which the goddesses win over the boy’s mind

[v] omnium tum fēminārum pulcherrima │[i] genitive; [ii] expressing the object of the superlative i.e. the most beautiful of all women

[vi] cum Agamemnone frātre │[i] ablative; [ii] with preposition cum + ablative; the ablative of accompaniment i.e. with whom is an action performed

15.04.25: Level 2; review; Hillard and Botting (H & B); review sentences [A]

Complete the Latin translations with the verbs in the wordcloud.

1. They are preparing the troops│ Cōpiās __________
2. They are sailing to Asia │Ad Asiam __________
3. They fight for a long time │ Diū __________
4. They gain fame [= they get famous] │ Fāmam __________
5. They storm Troy / take Troy by assault │ Troiam __________
6. They will prepare the troops │ Cōpiās  __________
7. They will sail to Asia │ Ad Asiam __________
8. The will fight for a long time │ Diū __________
9. They will gain fame │ Fāmam __________
10. They will take Troy by assault │ Troiam __________

comparābunt; comparant; expugnābunt; expugnant; nāvigābunt; nāvigant; parābunt; parant; pugnābunt; pugnant

12.04.25: H & B; level 2; reading; a Pyrrhic victory (280BC)

Tarentī incolae, ubi bellum cum Rōmānīs gerēbant, auxilium ā Pyrrhō, Ēpīrī rēge, petiērunt. Pyrrhus cum maximō exercitū Graecōrum ad Ītaliam venit et cum Rōmānīs prope Hēraclēam pugnāvit. Tum prīmum in proelium contrā Rōmānōs elephantī ductī sunt. Rōmānī partim propter animālium ingentium timōrem, partim propter optimam disciplīnam Graecōrum vīctī sunt. Plūrimī tamen utrimque cecidērunt. Pyrrhus, ubi tot mortuōrum corpora vīdit, ‘Sī eiusmodī victōriam iterum reportāverō,’ clāmāvit, ‘sōlus ad Ēpīrum nāvigābō.’ Ūtilissima fuit Pyrrhō Cīneae lēgātī sapientia, nam plūra oppida per ēloquentiam conciliāvit Cīneās quam rēx bellō superāvit: frūstrā tamen cum Rōmānīs in urbe dē pāce disseruit: “Numquam cum hostibus, dum in Ītaliā sunt,’ Appius Claudius senātor respondit, ‘dē pāce Rōmānī dissērunt.’ Cīneās, ubi ad Pyrrhum revertit, ‘Rōmānōrum,’ inquit, ‘urbs deōrum templum, senātus deōrum concilium est.’ Tandem Pyrrhus prope Beneventum victus est; posteā ad Graeciam revertit.

[1] lines 1 -2 (Tarentī … petiērunt)

[i] Who was fighting the Romans? (1)

[ii] Who was Pyrrhus? (2)

[iii] Why was he contacted? (1)

[2] Lines 2 – 5; translate into English (12)*:

Pyrrhus cum maximō exercitū Graecōrum ad Ītaliam vēnit et cum Rōmānīs prope Hēraclēam pugnāvit. Tum prīmum in proelium contrā Rōmānōs elephantī ductī sunt. Rōmānī partim propter animālium ingentium timōrem, partim propter optimam disciplīnam Graecōrum vīctī sunt. Plūrimī tamen utrimque cecidērunt.

[3] Lines 5 – 7 (Pyrrhus, ubi … nāvigābō.)

What was Pyrrhus’s reaction when he saw the large number of deaths? (2)

[4] Lines 7 – 8 (Ūtilissima …. superāvit)

[i] Who was Cineas? (1)

[ii] Why was he useful to Pyrrhus? (4); nam ¦ [i] plūra oppida ¦ [ii] per ēloquentiam ¦ [i] conciliāvit Cīneās ¦ [iii] quam rēx [iv] bellō [iii] superāvit

[5] Lines 8 – end (frūstrā ... revertit)

[i] Why were peace negotiations unsuccessful? (2)

[ii] How did Cineas describe [a] Rome and [b] the Senate? (2)

[iii] What was the outcome of the conflict? (2)

[6] Either from your own general knowledge, or from the text, briefly explain the meaning of the term Pyrrhic victory. (2)**

[7]

[i] Explain the grammatical terms in bold

Tarentī incolae … auxilium ā Pyrrhō, Ēpīrī [a] rēge, [b] petiērunt.

[a] rēge: the noun is in apposition. What does this term mean? (2)

[b] petiērunt: a syncopated form of the verb (2)

[ii]

[a] Ūtilissima fuit Pyrrhō Cīneae lēgātī sapientia

In what case is Pyrrhō and why is that case being used? (2)

[b] … quam rēx bellō superāvit

In what case is bellō and why is that case being used? (2)

[iii] Compare the Latin and English word order (4)

propter animālium ingentium timōrem; ubi tot mortuōrum corpora vīdit

[iv] Compare and contrast the Latin and English tense usage (4)

‘Sī eiusmodī victōriam iterum reportāverō,’ clāmāvit, ‘sōlus ad Ēpīrum nāvigābō.’

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrrhus_of_Epirus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Heraclea

https://www.heritage-history.com/index.php?c=read&author=guerber&book=romans&story=pyrrhus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrrhic_victory

Pyrrhus and his elephants

Pyrrhos, King of Epeiros, 297–272 BC. Head of Zeus in wreath of oak / Demeter seated, holding long sceptre and her veil; caption ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΥΡΡΟΥ (of king Pyrrhus)

Routes taken against Rome in the Pyrrhic War (280–275 BC); by Piom, translation by Pamela Butler - Image:Pyrrhic_War_Italy_PioM.svg, in Polish, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4588930

____________________

*[2] [i] With a very large army of Greeks [ii] Pyrrhus came towards Italy [iii] and fought with the Romans near Heraclea. [iv] Then for the first time elephants were led [v] into battle against the Romans. [vi] Partly on account of fear [vii] of the huge animals, [viii] (and) partly on account of the excellent discipline [ix] of the Greeks, [x] the Romans were beaten. [xi] Very many, however, fell [xii] on both sides.

**[6] “A Pyrrhic victory is a [i] victory that inflicts such a devastating toll on the victor that [ii] it is tantamount to defeat. Such a victory negates any true sense of achievement or damages long-term progress.”

09.04.25: H & B; level 2; reading; a Roman father

T. Mānlius Torquātus cōnsul exercitum Rōmānum ad disciplīnam sevērissimam īnstituit. ‘Nēmō’ (sīc mīlitibus ēdīxerat) ‘sōlus extrā ōrdinēs cum hostibus pugnābit.’ Praeerat tum hostium equitibus vir propter virtūtem nōtissimus Geminus Mettius: Mānliī fīlium Mettius ad certāmen prōvocāvit. Mōvit iuvenis animum intrepidum vel īra vel pudor: patris iussa neglēxit hostemque superāvit et occīdit. Tum corpus Mettīī spoliāvit, spolia magnō cum gaudiō ad patrem portāvit. Pater autem ‘Quoniam, T. Mānlī,’ inquit, ‘nec cōnsulis imperium nec patris auctōritātem timēs contrāque imperātōris iussa extrā ōrdinēs sōlus hodiē cum hoste pugnāvistī mīlitāremque disciplīnam neglēxistī, poenās audāciae morte persolvēs. Trīste exemplum erimus, sed reliquīs iuvenibus ūtile.’ Statim patris iussū fīlius ad supplicium dūcitur.

[1] Lines 1 – 2 (T. Mānlius … pugnābit)

[i] How did Manlius Torquatus treat the Roman army? (1)

[ii] What order was given to the soldiers? (2)

[2] Lines 3 – 6; translate into English (15)*:

Praeerat tum hostium equitibus vir propter virtūtem nōtissimus Geminus Mettius: Mānliī fīlium Mettius ad certāmen prōvocāvit. Mōvit iuvenis animum intrepidum vel īra vel pudor: patris iussa neglēxit hostemque superāvit et occīdit. Tum corpus Mettiī spoliāvit, spolia magnō cum gaudiō ad patrem portāvit.

[3] lines 6 – end (Pater, autem … dūcitur)

In your own words explain – with reference to the extract – the Roman attitude towards military discipline (12)**

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titus_Manlius_Imperiosus_Torquatus

Manlius's son disobeys orders and fights a duel with a Latin warrior. Early 20th century book illustration

Titus Manlius Torquatus (Goltzius: c. 1590)

Consul Titus Manlius Imperiosus Torquatus defeating a Gallic in 361 BC (Illustration by Tancredi Scarpelli)

____________________

* [2] [i] At that time Geminus Mettius, ¦ [ii] a man very well-known ¦ [iii] on account of his courage, ¦ [i] was in command ¦ [iv] of the cavalry: ¦ [v] Mettius challenged Manlius’s son ¦ [vi] to a contest / battle. ¦ [vii] Either anger or shame ¦ [viii] stirred the mind ¦ [ix] of the fearless young man; ¦ [x] he ignored / disregarded his father’s commands, ¦ [xi] and conquered ¦ [xii] and killed [xi] the enemy. ¦ [xiii] He then despoiled (robbed) the body of Mettius ¦ [xiv] and, with great joy, ¦ [xv] carried the spoils to his father.

** [3] A military command is absolute; on no account should it be disobeyed. By acting alone and fighting outside the ranks the son disobeys the superior authority of Manlius as consul, commander and father:

… T. Mānlī,’ inquit, ‘nec cōnsulis imperium nec patris auctōritātem timēs contrāque imperātōris iussa extrā ōrdinēs sōlus hodiē cum hoste pugnāvistī …

Manlius’s reference to his son showing no fear (nec patris auctōritātem timēs) may suggest that the latter thought there would be no repercussions since the command had been given by his father. However, military hierarchy is unassailable and superior to family bonds. Consequently, Manlius shows no favoritism towards his son. Despite the son’s killing of Mettius that victory does not justify the disregard of military discipline:

mīlitāremque disciplīnam neglēxistī

The son’s failure to adhere to command is so intolerable that even his own father condemns him to death:

poenās audāciae morte persolvēs

The reference to audācia serves as a warning; here the noun has its full negative sense of “recklessness”. Manlius’s son, provoked by an enemy soldier, fails to maintain self-control and for that he must pay the ultimate price. The father must show to other young soldiers that he will always be consistent in upholding military discipline irrespective of the offender and irrespective of the personal distress his decision will cause:

trīste exemplum erimus, sed reliquīs iuvenibus ūtile

The father is so secure in his own judgement that there is no time for reflection or appeal, the son led straightaway to his punishment in the concisely and dramatically expressed conclusion, the use of the historic present tense (dūcitur) adding to the sense of immediacy:

statim patris iussū fīlius ad supplicium dūcitur