21.06.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein: Maria Britannica [1]: text, exercise, notes

“Lateris prīmī longitūdinem circiter quingenta mīlia esse iūdicat, secundī septingenta, tertiī octingenta. Itaque dē magnitūdine insulae nōn multum errabat. Flūmen Tamesam ā marī circiter octōgintā mīlia distāre iūdicat." Hīc nōs puerī "Errābat igitur" inquimus; "nam inter Londinium et mare nōn sunt octōgintā mīlia." Sed patruus meus "Rectē iudicābat" inquit; "nam pars maris ubi Caesaris castra erant circiter octōgintā mīlia Rōmāna ā Londiniō distat. Tria maria insulam nostram circumdant; inter Britanniam et Galliam est mare Britannicum vel fretum Gallicum; ab occidente mare Hibernicum; ab oriente mare Germānicum. Nōmina marium temporibus antīquīs nōn ūsitāta erant; sed iam Graecī Britanniam esse insulam iūdicābant."

Vocabulary review: match the Latin and English

circiter

circumdō, -dare, -dedī, -dātus [1]

distō, -āre, distitī [1]

errō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

flūmen, flūminis [3/n]

fretum, -ī [2/n]

Hibernicus, -a, -um

itaque

iūdicō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

latus, lateris [3/n]

longitūdō, longitūdinis [3/f]

magnitūdō, magnitūdinis [3/f]

occidēns, occidentis [3/m]

oriēns, orientis [3/m]

rēctē

ūsitātus, -a, -um

judge / determine; Irish; east; correctly; channel / estuary; approximately; length; make a mistake; river; stand apart / be distant; size; side; surround; therefore; used / usual / common; west

Note: to review i-stem nouns like mare, -is [3/n]:

Level 3; Sonnenschein; Prō Patriā [3]; Cunobelīnus [4]; review: i-stem nouns (3)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/140625-level-3-sonnenschein-cunobelinus.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/817036527574284/

20.06.25: topic; ships [7]; Comenius; XCI; a Ship-wreck (2)

Incubuēre marī tōtumque ā sēdibus īmīs / ūna [1] Eurusque [2] Notusque ruunt crēberque procellīs / [3] Āfricus et vastōs volvunt ad lītora flūctūs. (Virgil)

[The winds] fall upon the sea and they overturn everything from the bottom-most depths – together, both [1] East Wind and [2] South Wind and, frequent with gusts, the [3] Southwest Wind – and they roll huge waves toward the shores.

[i] Images #1 and #2: Latin has a number of terms pertaining to wind direction which were first discussed here:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/05/240424-nouns-and-adjectives-referring.html

Ancient Greek mythology referred to the ‘Anemoi’ / Ἄνεμοι (‘winds’) of which there were four, each personified as a god. In Roman mythology ‘anemoi’ is ventī (‘winds’) and the winds were also considered to be gods. The images of the four Gods are from the Tower of the Winds at Athens.

[1] Boreās, -ae [1/m]: the north wind

aquilō, aquilōnis [3/m]; septentriō, septentriōnis [3/m]: north, north wind

aquilōnāris, -e; boreālis, -e; septentriōnālis, -e: northern

[2] Notus, Notos, -ī [2/m]: the south wind

auster, austrī [2/m]; merīdiēs, merīdiēī [5/m]: south, south wind

austrālis, -e; merīdiōnālis, -e; merīdiānus, -a, -um: southern

[3] Eurus, -ī [2/m]; apēliōtēs, -ae [1/m]; subsōlānus, -ī [2/m]: east wind

oriēns, orientis [3/m]: east

orientālis, -e: eastern

[4] Zephyrus, -ī [2/m]; favōnius, -ī [2/m]: west wind

occidēns, occidentis [3/m]: west

occidentālis, -e: western

compass points

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/05/240424-east-and-west.html

Image #3: In antiquity, the earth was divided into parallel clime zones according to latitude; Renaissance geographers typically showed nine such climatic zones, this image also showing the compass points:

septentriō, septenriōnis [3/m]: north

merīdiēs, merīdiēī [5/m]: south

oriēns, orientis [3/m]: east

occidēns, occidentis [3/m]: west

Image #4: 1472: publication of Etymologiae of archbishop Isidore of Seville, a 7^th century encylcopedia

The map has East (Oriens) at the top, South (Meridies) at the right, West (Occidens) at the bottom, and North (Septentrio) at the left, the central sea labelled as ‘The Great Sea, or Mediterrnean” (Mare magnum sive mediterraneum). The continents aree named together with the son of Noah accredited with its settlement: Europa (Japhet / Iaphet), Africa (Ham), Asia (Shem). Jerusalem (Hierusalem) is placed in Western Asia near the centre of the world, the Garden of Eden (Paradisus) in the Far East.

Image #5

Sōl in oriente oritur. │ The sun rises in the East.

Sōl in occidente occidit. │ The sun sets in the West.

Ventus ab oriente spīrat. │ The wind is blowing from the East.

Ventus ab occidente flat. │ The wind is blowing from the West.

20.06.25: topic; ships [6]; Comenius; XCI; a Ship-wreck (1)

There are different editions of the work of Comenius; this one – and I have reproduced the text exactly – show an interesting comparison between Latin, the spelling of which has remained virtually unchanged for centuries, and 17^th century English, which still shows remarkable inconsistency in spelling, a feature also noticeable in the early editions of Shakespeare’s works.

suddain = sudden; sayl = sail; shipwrack = shipwreck; sheat = sheet; shoars = shores

When a storm ariseth on a suddain, they strike sayl lest the ship should be dashed against rocks or light upon shelves.

Cum procella oritur repente contrahunt vēla nē nāvīs ad scopulōs allīdātur, aut incīdat in brevia (syrtēs).

If they cannot hinder her they suffer shipwrack.

Sī nōn possunt prohibēre patiuntur naufragium.

And then the men, the wares, all things are miserably lost.

Tum hominēs, mercēs, omnia miserābiliter pereunt.

Nor doth the sheat-anchor, being cast with a cable, do any good.

Neque hīc sacra anchora, rūdentī iacta quidquam adiuvat.

Some escape, either on a plank, and by swimming, or in the boat.

Quīdam ēvādunt, vel tabulā, ac ēnatandō, vel scaphā.

Part of the wares, with the dead folks, is carried out of the sea, upon the shoars.

Pars mercium cum mortuīs ā marī in littora dēfertur.

[i] Passives:

Pars mercium … dēfertur │ Part of the wares … is carried away

anchora … iacta │ the anchor (which has been) thrown

[ii] Deponent verbs:

procella oritur │ a storm arises

patiuntur naufragium │ they suffer a shipwreck

[iii] Gerund:

Quīdam ēvādunt … ēnatandō │ some escape by swimming away

[iv] procella, -ae [1/f]: violent wind, storm, hurricane, tempest

tempestās, tempestātis [3/f]: context will determine the meaning: [i] storm or gale, [ii] weather (either good or bad), [iii]  period of time, season

[v] image #1: contrahō, -ere, contrāxī, contractus [3]: draw in; pull (several objects) together; contrahunt vēla │ they strike the sails i.e. the sails are furled

solvō, -ere, solvī, solūtus [3]: untie, loosen; used to refer to ‘setting sail’ i.e. untying the ship from its mooring: paulō post mediam noctem nāvēs solvit (Caesar) │ he sets sail a little after midnight

[vi] scopulus, -ī [2/m]: rock, cliff, crag

[vii] syrtis, -is [3/f]: sandbank

brevis, -e: [i] short; [i] (of depth) shallow i.e. Comenius is referring to the “shallow parts” of the water; Engl. shelf = reef, sandbar

[viii] naufragium,-ī [2/n]: shipwreck

Image #2: late 3^rd century Roman shipwreck off the coast of Sicily

submergō (summergō), -ere, -mersī, -mersus [3]: sink

nāvēs submerguntur │ ships are sunk

nāvis submersa │ a sunken ship

[ix] merx, mercis [3/f]: merchandise; goods

Image #3: Some of the 135 amphorae from the wreck of a Roman ship off the coast of northern Catalonia

[x] sacra anc(h)ora: the term “sacred anchor”, derived from sailors, refers to the strongest anchor, only weighed when the ship is at its most critical point; sheet anchor: a large, spare anchor for use in emergencies

Image #4: Prīncipia Latīnē Loquendī Scrībendīque (1556) with depiction of the sacra anchora

[xi] rūdēns, rūdentis [3/m]: rope, cord, cable

[xii] tabula, -ae [1/f]: [i] (here) plank, [ii] wax covered tablet used for writing with a stylus

[xiii] scapha, -ae [1/f]: light boat, skiff

et cum scaphās concurrere undique ab nāvibus cernerent (Livy) │ When they saw boats from all the ships rowing to the place [i.e. small boats which belong to larger ones]

[xiv] littus, littoris [3/n]: alternative of litus, litoris [3/n]: shore

Grammar

For the moment, note the use of the Latin subjunctive in the sentence:

contrahunt vēla ¦ nē nāvīs ad scopulōs [i] allīdātur, aut [ii] incīdat in brevia │ they strike the sails ¦ lest the ship [ii] (might / should) be dashed against the rocks or [ii] light upon sandbanks

The subjunctive is used to express purpose. That purpose may be [1] positive i.e. X is done in order that Y happens, or [2] negative i.e. X is done in order that Y does not happen. Latin uses a subjunctive here because, at the point at which the main action [X] takes place, the purpose [Y] has not yet been achieved; in older English, it was common to read: “He went [X] to the shop in order that he might buy [Y] bread”, and it is this type of structure which Latin uses.

What we have here is a negative purpose:

contrahunt vēla [X] ¦ nē nāvis ad scopulōs allīdātur [Y]

They strike the sails [X] ¦ in order that the ship might not be dashed [Y] against the rocks

The archaic word ‘lest’ is often used to convey this: they strike the sails lest the ships (should / might) be dashed against the wrecks [i.e. this is what they do not want to happen], but it can be rendered in a less stilted manner: … (in order) to avoid the ship being dashed against the rocks

Nē mīlitēs oppidum inrumperent, portās obstruit (Caesar) │ He barricaded the gates, in order that the soldiers might not break into the town = …to avoid the soldiers breaking into the town

19.03.25: Follow-up on the previous post; grammatical “curve balls”

Referring to:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/646798164598122/

Sī versūs hōrum duōrum poētārum neglegētis, magnā parte litterārum carēbitis. │ If you neglect the verses of these two poets, you will miss a large part of literature.

A single sentence can be really useful, especially if you’re “on the way” with Latin. Of course, you can just be content with the translation that’s given, but you can look at it in a little more depth almost as a check-list.

When learning Latin, words and phrases such as “usually”, “most commonly” etc. give you the clue that, while most of the language conforms to very specific rules, there are “curve balls” and this sentence has quite a few of them!

[1]

versus: most nouns ending in -us are 2^nd declension; this one isn’t, which is why dictionaries and vocabulary lists will give a second piece of information i.e. the genitive singular because the genitive singular is different for, in fact, the three declensions that this word could belong to:

hortus, hortī [genitive singular]: garden; 2^nd declension because the genitive singular [-ī] is telling you that

pectus, pectoris [genitive singular]: chest; 3^rd declension [-is]

versus, versūs [genitive singular]: 4th declension [-ūs]

[2]

poeta, -ae: poet; most 1^st declension nouns are feminine; this one isn’t – it’s masculine and belongs to a little group of nouns which, although they have feminine endings, are considered to be masculine in gender owing to their association with “occupations” that were traditionally performed by males, for example:

poēta, -ae [1/masculine]: poet

agricola, -ae [1/m]: farmer

aurīga, -ae [1/m]: charioteer

pīrāta, -ae [1/m]: pirate

scrība, -ae [1/m]: scribe

However, although the nouns decline as feminines, whatever agrees with them e.g. adjectives, are masculine – and that is exactly the same as modern Russian: dedushka (grandfather) in Russian is grammatically feminine, but when you say “my grandfather”, Russian uses the masculine form for ‘my’ i.e. “moj dedushka” (incidentally, ‘man’ in Russian is also feminine: muzhchina!) Therefore, in this sentence:

versūs hōrum [masculine] duōrum [masculine] poētārum [feminine]: the verses of those two poets

[3] Sī versūs hōrum duōrum poētārum [i] neglegētis, magnā parte litterārum [ii] carēbitis.

[i] If you neglect [English: present tense] the verses of these two poets, ¦ [ii] you will miss [English: future tense] a great part of literature. That’s the right translation, of course, but it isn’t exactly what the Latin is saying.

It’s the first part where English and Latin are different. The “if” part of the sentence is known as the conditional clause; in this structure, English most often uses the present tense: if you [i] give [present tense] me the money, [ii] I’ll buy the cake.

In Latin, however, the future tense is used here:

Sī versūs hōrum duōrum poētārum [i] neglegētis [future tense], …

Literally: If you will neglect the works of these two poets,…

[4] … magnā parte litterārum carēbitis │ careō, -ēre [2]: lack, be without; this is one of a small group of verbs that are followed by the ablative case and convey the sense of being deprived of something

You will miss (miss out on, lack, be deprived of) a great part of literature.

A common verb of this type is: egeō, -ēre [2]: lack, want, be without, need

Cicero needs a lot of things in the ablative case…

tamen et ipse egeō argūmentō epistulārum (Cicero) │  still I am in want of subject matter

cōnsciīs egeō aliīs (Cicero) │ I need others as accomplices

egeō rēbus omnibus (Cicero) │ I am in want of everything

tuō cōnsiliō egeō (Cicero) │ I need your advice

But what he doesn’t need …

sed nōn egeō medicīnā (Cicero) │ I don’t need a remedy

19.06.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein; Gentium Britannicārum Societās [4]: listening (2)

Listen to the recording without looking at the transcript.

[1] Choose the correct answer [A], [B] or [C].

[Caesar formam et incolās Britanniae in capite duodecimō et tertiō decimō librī quintī commemorat. Incolae partis interiōris Celtae et barbarī erant; incolae maritimae partis ex Belgiō praedae causā immigrāverant, sīcut priōre aetāte trans flūmen Rhenum in Belgium migrāverant.]

[i] Caesar describes Britannia in the [A] 2^nd and 3^rd  [B] 22^nd and 23^rd [C] 12^th and 13^th chapters of his [A] 15^th [B] 5^th [C] 25^th book.

[ii] The Celts lived [A] by the sea [B] inland [C] on a small island.

[iii] The migrants lived [A] by the sea [B] inland [C] on a small island.

[iv] They had migrated [A] to start a war [B] because of better weather [C] to plunder.

[v] They crossed the Rhine [A] in winter [B] the previous summer [C] a year before.

[2] Fill in the blanks with a single word or short phrase.

[Et nōnnulla nōmina gentium maritimārum, unde nōmina urbium hodiernārum dērivāta sunt, Belgica vel Gallica sunt. Belgae autem ā Germānīs oriundī erant, ut Caesar in capite quartō librī secundī dēmonstrat. Itaque pars Britannōrum antīquōrum Germānicā orīgine erant.]

[i] Belgian and Gaulish influence is seen in today’s __________.

[ii] The Belgae were originally from __________.

[iii] Caesar refers to this in the __________ chapter of his __________ book.

[iv] Some of the __________ were of Germanic origin.

[3]

[Formam insulae esse triquetram dēclārat. Sed ūnum latus ad Galliam spectāre existimat, alterum ad Hispāniam atque occidentem, tertium ad septentriōnēs. Itaque dē lateribus et angulīs laterum errābat. Hiberniam ab occidente parte Britanniae esse rectē iūdicat, insulam Mōnam inter Britanniam et Hiberniam esse.]

Which of the three maps gives the closest representation of Caesar’s description of Britannia?

And take a second look: which of the three maps thinks that Brazil is an island off the west coast of Ireland?

Map A

Map B

Map C

____________________

[3] Map [C]

Formam insulae esse triquetram dēclārat:  shaped like a triangle

ūnum latus ad Galliam: one side facing Gaul

alterum ad Hispāniam: a second side facing Spain

insulam Mōnam inter Britanniam et Hiberniam: the island of Anglesey between Britain and Ireland

19.06.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein; Gentium Britannicārum Societās [3]: listening (1)

[A] Listen to the text and fill in the blanks with the missing words

Gentium Britannicārum __________

Tum patruus meus reliqua de __________ Caesaris narrāvit. "Dum __________ nautaeque Rōmānī __________ novīs armīs ornant, Caesar ad reliquās copiās properat. Intereā __________ summum imperium Cassivellaunō mandāverant. Cassivellaunus nōn erat __________ ūniversārum __________ Britannicārum, sed __________ vel __________ __________ Cassōrum.

classem; dux; expedītiōne; gentis; gentium; hostēs; mīlitēs; princēps; rēx; societās

[B] Listen to the text and choose the correct form of the noun

Annō tamen quartō et quinquāgēsimō ante Christum nātum …

1. magna [a] partis [b] pars [c] partēs …
2. [a] gentium [b] gentis [c] gentibus Britanniae merīdiānae sē sub Cassivellaunō contrā Rōmānōs consociāverant.
3. [a] Flūminis [b] Flūmine [c] Flūmen  Tamesa …
4. [a] fīnīs [b] fīnēs [c] fīnis Cassivellaunī …
5. ā [a] fīnēs [b] fīnīs [c] fīnibus …
6. [a] gēns [b] gentium [c] gentēs maritimārum sēparābat;
7. ab [a] oriente [b] orientī [c] orientis erant …
8. [a] fīnēs [b] fīnīs [c] fīnibus …
9. [a] Trinobantēs [b] Trinobantīs [c] Trinobantium;
10. ab [a] occidentī [b] occidente [c] occidentis Britannī mediterrāneī.

[C] Fill in the blanks with the missing nouns:

Superiōre __________ bella continua fuerant inter Cassivellaunum et reliquās __________; atque __________ auxilium Rōmānōrum contrā Cassivellaunum implōrāverant, quia __________ suum trucīdāverat. Numerus __________ magnus erat; nam, ut Caesar affirmat, infīnīta __________ __________ erat in __________ merīdiānā Britanniae.

____________________

[A]

Gentium Britannicārum Societās [1]

Tum patruus meus reliqua de expedītiōne Caesaris narrāvit. "Dum mīlitēs nautaeque Rōmānī classem novīs armīs ornant, Caesar ad reliquās copiās properat. Intereā hostēs summum imperium Cassivellaunō mandāverant. Cassivellaunus nōn erat rēx ūniversārum gentium Britannicārum, sed dux vel princēps gentis Cassōrum.

[B]

Annō tamen quartō et quinquāgēsimō ante Christum nātum magna pars gentium Britanniae merīdiānae sē sub Cassivellaunō contrā Rōmānōs consociāverant. Flūmen Tamesa fīnēs Cassivellaunī ā fīnibus gentium maritimārum sēparābat; ab oriente erant fīnēs Trinobantium; ab occidente Britannī mediterrāneī.

[C]

Superiōre tempore bella continua fuerant inter Cassivellaunum et reliquās gentēs; atque Trinobantēs auxilium Rōmānōrum contrā Cassivellaunum implōrāverant, quia rēgem suum trucīdāverat. Numerus hostium magnus erat; nam, ut Caesar affirmat, infīnīta multitūdō hominum erat in parte merīdiānā Britanniae.”

18.06.25: topic; ships [5]; Comenius XC; a Merchant ship (2)

[3]

The ancient is placed in the stern. │ Signum (vēxillum) pōnitur in puppī.

On the mast is the foretop, the watch-tower of the ship and on the top … a vane, to shew which way the wind standeth.

In mālō est corbis, specula nāvis et suprā … aplustre, ventōrum index.

[i] Comenius uses the archaic English word ‘ancient’, a term in heraldry to refer to a flag or banner or ensign:

signum, -ī [2/n]: a very general word meaning ‘sign’ or ‘signal’, the phrase signō datō, for example, meaning ‘after the signal had been given’ i.e. for battle to commence; in military language it can also refer to the distinctive sign (emblem, eagle, banner) of an army division

vēxillum, -ī [2/n]: flag, banner, standard

[ii] corbis, -is [3m/f]: basket

[iii] specula, -ae [1/f]: lookout, watchtower

[iv] aplustre, -is [3/n]: while Comenius refers to aplustre  as a weather vane, the word described the curved and ornamented wooden stern of a Roman ship

Image #1: aplustre from From: A school dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities (Smith, William, Sir, 1813-1893)

[4]

The ship is stayed with an anchor, │ nāvīs sistitur anc(h)orā,

the depth is fathomed with a plummet, │profunditās explōrātur bolide,

passengers walk up and down the decks, │nāvigantēs [participle: those (who are) sailing] dēambulant in tabulātō,

the sea men run to and fro through the hatches, │nautæ cursitant per forōs,

and thus, even seas are passed over.  │ atque ita, etiam maria trāiciuntur.

[i] Passives:

nāvis sistitur ¦ ancorā │ the ship is halted ¦ by an anchor

• sistō, -ere, stitī, status [3]: stop, halt

profunditās explōrātur │ the depth is explored (investigated, tested)

• profunditās, profunditātis [3/f]: depth

maria trāiciuntur │ seas are crossed over

[ii] bolis, bolidis [3/f]: this is an interesting choice of word; Comenius refers to measuring the depth of the water (and determining the characteristics of the sea floor) with a sounding line or lead line, a thin length of rope to which a lead weight –  a plummet – is attached. This was a simple and reliable tool used since the 5^th century BC, archaelogical discoveries showing that the method was employed by Greek and Roman navigators.

sed posteāquam quartādecimā nox supervēnit nāvigantibus nōbīs in Hadriā circā mediam noctem suspicābantur nautae appārēre sibi aliquam regiōnem, quī submittentēs invēnērunt passūs vīgintī et pusillum inde sēparātī invēnērunt passūs quīndecim (Vulgate)

But after the fourteenth night was come, as we were sailing in Adria, about midnight, the shipmen deemed that they discovered some country, who also sounding [literally: “lowering” i.e. a lead line], found twenty fathoms: and going on a little further, they found fifteen fathoms.

Image #2: a sailor and a man on shore both sounding the depth with a line; Olaus Magnus: On the Vast Depths of the Norwegian Coasts (1554)

However, the word itself – bolis, bolidis [3/f] – in Classical Latin refers specifically to “a fiery meteor in the shape of an arrow”; Engl: bolide, an exceptionally bright meteor; it is one of the words Pliny the Elder uses to describe different types of meteor although it is difficult to establish precise English equivalents. The Latin noun is from Greek βολίς (bolís), a javelin or dart. I can only assume Comenius uses it owing to the pointed shape of a lead plummet, or the way in which it rapidly and precisely strikes the water.

Image #3: plummet or plumb bob of a Roman mason (1^st – 3^rd century AD); the ones used by carpenters and masons do have a pointed end although the ones used for depth sounding are normally in the shape of a bell;  “plumb” is derived from Latin plumbum, -ī [2/n]: lead, hence plumbārius, -ī [2/m]: plumber

līnea, -ae [1/f]: refers to any form of line or string or thread, including fishing-line, and is also attested as referring to a plumbline used by carpenters and masons

[iii] tabulātus, -a, -um: boarded, having a floor > tabulātum, -ī [2/n]: flooring

• constrātum, -ī [2/n]: any flooring made of planks; Petronius makes specific reference to constrātum nāvis meaning the deck of a ship

[iv] forus, -ī [2/m]: gangway of a ship; Comenius uses the word to refer to openings through the deck of a ship

[v] cursitō, -āre [1]: run around; this verb has a suffix: –(i)tō; this suffix denotes a frequentative action i.e. one that is performed more than once:

• dictitō, -āre [1]: repeat, maintain i.e. keep saying something
• clāmitō, -āre [1]: yell i.e. not a single shout but a prolonged action
• vēnditō, -āre [1]: offer something, again and again, for sale

18.06.25: topic; ships [4]; Comenius XC; a Merchant ship (1)

Key vocabulary discussed in earlier posts is highlighted but not discussed. Comenius goes into considerable detail about the parts of 17th century vessels, which may appear quite specialised, but many of the Latin words are common and were all used in relation to ships. I have omitted a couple of small sections where the vocabulary is too rare to be of any value.

[1]

A Merchant-ship │ Nāvis onerāria

A ship is driven onward not by oars, but by the sole force of the winds.

Nāvigium impellitur, nōn rēmīs, sed sōlā vī ventōrum.

[i] Image #1: late 17^th century Dutch cargo vessel, described as a nāvis mercātōria, the term used by Plautus:

Ībō in Pīraeum, vīsam ecquae advēnerit / in portum ex Ephesō nāvis mercātōria │ To the Piraeus will I go; I'll go see whether any merchant-ship has come into harbour from Ephesus.

[ii] vīs, vīs [3/f] can be misread, especially in the plural

the word means ‘force’, ‘power’, ‘strength’, ‘violence’, but it is often used in the plural: vīrēs (strength; physical force) and looks similar to virī (men) but they are completely different words

Image #2: vīs is also an example of a defective noun which refers to a noun where not all the case endings are attested in Classical Latin; the English verb “can” is defective since there is no infinitive “to can”, “to be able” being used instead of the original Anglo-Saxon infinitive cunnan (Modern German: können)

[iii] impellō, -ere, impulī, impulsus [3]: drive, push forward

Nāvigium impellitur │ a ship (vessel) is pushed / driven forward

[2]

In it is a mast set up, fastened with shrowds, on all sides to the main-chains, to which the sail-yards are tied, and the sails to these, which are spread open, to the wind, …

In illō mālus ērigitur, firmātus fūnibus, undique ad orās nāvīs, cui annectuntur antennæ, hīs, vēla quæ expanduntur, ad ventum ...

The beak is in the fore-deck. │ Rōstrum est in prōrā.

[i] Passives:

Mālus ērigitur │ a mast is set up

firmātus ¦ fūnibus │fastened by /with ropes

vēla expanduntur │ the sails are spread open

annectuntur antennae │ the sail-yards are tied

[ii] Careful!

mālus, -ī [2/m]: mast of a ship

mālus, -ī [2/f]: apple tree

malus, -a, -um: evil, bad

mālum, -ī [2/n]: apple

malum, -ī [2/n]: evil, misfortune, wrongdoing

[iii] shrowds (archaic) = shrouds = the ropes that are tied around a mast = Latin: fūnis, -is [3/m], the general word for a rope or a cord

[iv] antenna (CL: antemna), -ae [1/f]: sail-yard, the horizontal spar or shaft to which a sail is attached on a sailing vessel, used to spread and support the sail 

Image #3: antenna from: A school dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities (Smith, William, Sir, 1813-1893)

[v] It’s interesting that in the 17^th century, English is still using the word “beak” or “beakhead” i.e. the literal translation of Latin rōstrum which refers to the protruding part of the foremost section of a sailing ship

[vi] An extract from Livy describing Scipio’s tactics during a naval battle:

Scīpiō … onerāriārum quadruplicem ōrdinem prō mūrō adversus hostem opposuit │ Scipio … placed four lines of transport (ships) as a bulwark (“wall”) against the enemy.

The passage goes on to describe how Scipio prevented this line of transport ships from being broken in battle:

malīs antemnīsque ¦ dē nāve in nāvem ¦ trāiectīs ac validīs fūnibus velut ūnō inter sē vinculō inligātīs

with masts and (sail-)yards crosswise ¦ from ship to ship ¦ lashed together with stout ropes as if by a single cable (vinculum, -ī [2/n]: chain, link, cord i.e. anything used for binding).

17.06.25: Level 3; summary of the uses of the ablative case [17]: the ablative as object of deponent verbs

Discussed here: Level 3; deponent verbs (8); Back to the alligators …; deponent verbs with the ablative case

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/01/040425-level-3-deponent-verbs-8-back-to.html

https://adckl2.blogspot.com/2025/02/level-3-deponent-verbs-8-back-to.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/716020127675925/

Latin tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlemej9a7tk

There are five deponent verbs that are followed by the ablative case:

[1] fruor, fruī, frūctus sum [3/dep]: enjoy

cibō fruitur. │ He enjoys food.

[2] fungor, fungī, fūnctus sum [3/dep]: perform (a duty / function)

consulatū fungitur. │He performs the office of consul.

[3] potior, potīrī, potītus sum [4/dep]: obtain; take possession of

pīrātae nāvī potiuntur. │The pirates take control of the ship.

Rēx Aegyptī bellum īnfert quī terrā potītur atque thēsaurōs templī et rēgiae aufert. │ The king of Egypt wages war and he takes possession of the land and steals the treasures of the temple and the palace.

[4] ūtor, ūtī, ūsus sum [3/dep]: use

Vincere scīs, Hannibal, victōriā ūtī nescīs. (Livy) │You know how to conquer, Hannibal, but you do not know how to use the victory.

Miles gladiō ūtitur. │ The soldier uses / makes use of a sword.

Omnibus cōpiīs ūtuntur. │ They make use of all their forces. 

[5] vescor, vescī, -no perfect- [3/dep]: feed upon

Numidae plērumque carne vēscuntur. │ The Numidians generally eat / feed on meat.

17.06.25: Level 3; summary of the uses of the ablative case [16]: the ablative of price

Latin tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y69cLzFHVUs

The price of something is expressed in the ablative, the price either being a specific numerical value or referring to a general amount (e.g. high or low price) or, as in the last quotation a noun which is equated to a value.

Agrum vēndidit sēstertium sex mīlibus. │ He sold the land for 6000 sesterces.

Nam nummōs antīquōs magnō pretiō vēnumdant. │ For they offer the ancient coins for sale at a great / high price.

magnō pretiō: at a high price

parvō pretiō: at a low price

sānē [i] magnō pretiō, [ii] nummīs aureīs quadringentīs (Livy) │ of course [i] at a great price, [ii]  for four hundred gold coins

operam Epidicī nunc mē emere pretiō pretiōsō velim (Plautus) │ I'd be willing to pay a pretty price for Epidicus's assistance now [literally: I would like to buy Epidicus’ assistance at an expensive price]  

Antōnius rēgna addīxit pecūniā. │Antony sold kingdoms for money.

Logōs rīdiculōs: quis cēnā poscit? │ Jokes: who wants them for (at the price of) a dinner?

17.06.25: Level 3; summary of the uses of the ablative case [15]: the ablative of separation

Discussed here: Beasts in Egypt and Libya [4]; the Winged Serpents and the Ibis; ablative of separation

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/060525-level-3-beasts-in-egypt-and.html

https://adckl2.blogspot.com/2025/02/level-3-beasts-in-egypt-and-libya-4.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/747756781168926/

Latin tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_TPgzLk0So&t=171s

The ablative – sometimes with prepositions – is used when x is “separated” from y, that separation being physical or abstract, positive or negative. The idea is conveyed in the following English sentences:

He was free from fear.

He was removed from office.

He was deprived of water (i.e. he was prevented from having water).

He lacked food.

[i] hostēs ¦ [ii] fīnibus prohibuērunt │ They kept [i] the enemy ¦ [ii] from (their) borders.

[i] praedōnēs ¦ [ii] ab īnsulā prohibuit │ He kept [i] the pirates ¦ [ii] from the island.

[i] urbem ¦ [ii] ā tyrannō  līberāvērunt │ They freed [i] the city ¦ [ii] from the tyrant.

[i] liberāmur ¦ mortis [ii] mētū │ [i] We are freed [ii] from the fear of death.

2 verbs which express the concept of “deprivation”:

[1] careō, -ēre, -uī [2]: lack, be without something

Sī versūs hōrum duōrum poētārum neglegētis, magnā parte litterārum carēbitis. │ If you neglect the verses of these two poets, you will miss a great part of literature.

Imperātor mīlitibus proeliō caruit. │ The general lacked / was without soldiers for the battle.

[2] egeō, -ēre, -uī [2]: lack, want, be without, need

Cicero needs a lot of things …

tamen et ipse egeō argūmentō epistulārum (Cicero) │  still I am in want of subject matter

cōnsciīs egeō aliīs (Cicero) │ I need others as accomplices

egeō rēbus omnibus (Cicero) │ I am in want of everything

tuō cōnsiliō egeō (Cicero) │ I need your advice

But what he doesn’t need …

sed nōn egeō medicīnā: mē ipse cōnsōlor et maximē illō sōlāciō, quod eō errōre careō, quō amīcōrum dēcessū plērīque angī solent.  (Cicero)│ But I don’t need a remedy: I console myself very much by the comfort / in the comforting fact that I am free from the delusion by which, upon the departure of friends, most men are usually distressed.

17.06.25: Level 3; Ritchie; Fābulae Facilēs; Perseus [5]: Rēgēs Vīctī

cognōscō, -ere, cognōvī, cognitus [3]: get to know, learn, understand

fātum, -ī [2/n]: fate

irrumpō, -ere, irrūpī, irruptus [3]: burst in

Lārīsa, -ae [1/f]: Larissa (the capital city of Thessaly)

refugiō, -ere, -fūgī [3]: flee, run away

Thessalia, -ae [1/f]: Thessaly (a region of Greece)

Note: sē (ad locum) contulit; literally: he conveyed himself (to the place) = he went

[A] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck1l-n8eA3g

[Postquam Perseus ad īnsulam nāvem appulit, sē ad locum contulit ubi māter ōlim habitāverat, sed domum invēnit vacuam et omnīnō dēsertam. Trēs diēs per tōtam īnsulam mātrem quaerēbat; tandem quārtō diē ad templum Diānae pervēnit. Hūc Danae refūgerat, quod Polydectem timēbat. Perseus ubi haec cognōvit, īrā magnā commōtus est; ad rēgiam Polydectis sine morā contendit, et ubi eō vēnit, statim in ātrium irrūpit. Polydectēs magnō timōre affectus est et fugere volēbat. Dum tamen ille fugit, Perseus caput Medūsae mōnstrāvit; ille autem simul atque hoc vīdit, in saxum versus est.]

Mark the following statements as true (T) or false (F)?

[i] He sailed from the island.

[ii] There was a ship on the island.

[iii] He sailed to the island.

[iv] His mother was living in the house.

[v] His mother used to live in the house.

[vi] The house had been abandoned.

[vii] His mother was searching for him for three days.

[viii] He spent three days looking for his mother.

[ix] He found his mother on the fourth day.

[x] Diana had taken refuge in the temple.

[xi] Danae had fled to the temple.

[xii] Danae feared Polydectes.

[xiii] Polydectes feared Diana.

[xiv] Perseus was afraid.

[xv] Perseus was angry.

[xvi] Perseus burst into Polydetctes’ bedroom.

[xvii] Polydectes feared Perseus.

[xviii] Polydectes was shown the head of Medusa.

[xvix] Polydectes was turned into stone some time later.

[xx] Polydectes was immediately turned into stone.

[B] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YVGImiVIjE

[Post haec Perseus cum uxōre suā ad urbem Ācrisī rediit. Ille autem ubi Perseum vīdit, magnō terrōre affectus est; nam propter ōrāculum istud nepōtem suum adhūc timēbat. In Thessaliam igitur ad urbem Lārīsam statim refūgit, frūstrā tamen; neque enim fātum suum vītāvit. Post paucōs annōs rēx Lārīsae lūdōs magnōs fēcit; nūntiōs in omnēs partēs dīmīserat et diem ēdīxerat. Multī ex omnibus urbibus Graeciae ad lūdōs convēnērunt. Ipse Perseus inter aliōs certāmen discōrum iniit. At dum discum conicit, avum suum cāsū occīdit; Ācrisius enim inter spectātōrēs eius certāminis forte stābat.]

[i] Where did Perseus return to? (1)

[ii] How did Acrisius react and why? (3); [[1] magnō terrōre affectus est; nam [2] propter ōrāculum istud ¦ [3] nepōtem suum adhūc timēbat.

[iii] Why is Thessaly mentioned? (1)

[iv] What did the king of Larissa organise? (1)

[v] What two actions did he take when organising this? (3)

[vi] Who came to this event? (2)

[vii] How was Perseus involved? (1)

[viii] What happened to Acrisius and why? (4); [At (1) dum discum conicit, (2) avum suum cāsū occīdit; (3) Ācrisius enim ¦ (4) inter spectātōrēs eius certāminis (3) forte stābat.

[C] Find the Latin either by listening or from the transcript:

[i] accidentally

[ii] by chance

[iii] in vain

[iv] from all the cities

[v] he had appointed the day

[vi] after (conjunction)

[vii] after a few days

[viii] after this [ = after these things (events)]

[ix] for three days

[x] on the fourth day

[xi] as soon as he saw this

[xii] he was moved ¦ by great anger

[xiii] he was affected ¦ by great fear

[xiv] he was turned into stone

[xv] completely deserted

____________________

[A] (i) He sailed from the island. [F]; (ii) There was a ship on the island. [F]; (iii) He sailed to the island. [T]; (iv) His mother was living in the house. [F]; (v) His mother used to live in the house. [T]; (vi) The house had been abandoned. [T]; (vii) His mother was searching for him for three days. [F]; (viii) He spent three days looking for his mother. [T]; (ix) He found his mother on the fourth day. [F]; (x) Diana had taken refuge in the temple. [F]; (xi) Danae had fled to the temple. [T]; (xii) Danae feared Polydectes. [T]; (xiii) Polydectes feared Diana. [F]; (xiv) Perseus was afraid. [F]; (xv) Perseus was angry. [T]; (xvi) Perseus burst into Polydetctes’ bedroom. [F]; (xvii) Polydectes feared Perseus. [T]; (xviii) Polydectes was shown the head of Medusa. [T]; (xvix) Polydectes was turned into stone some time later. [F]; (xx) Polydectes was immediately turned into stone. [T]

16.06.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein; Gentium Britannicārum Societās [2]: reading

“Tum patruus meus reliqua de expedītiōne Caesaris narrāvit. "Dum mīlitēs nautaeque Rōmānī classem novīs armīs ornant, Caesar ad reliquās copiās properat. Intereā hostēs summum imperium Cassivellaunō mandāverant. Cassivellaunus nōn erat rēx ūniversārum gentium Britannicārum, sed dux vel princēps gentis Cassōrum. Annō tamen quartō et quinquāgēsimō ante Christum nātum magna pars gentium Britanniae merīdiānae sē sub Cassivellaunō contrā Rōmānōs consociāverant. Flūmen Tamesa fīnēs Cassivellaunī ā fīnibus gentium maritimārum sēparābat; ab oriente erant fīnēs Trinobantium; ab occidente Britannī mediterrāneī. Superiōre tempore bella continua fuerant inter Cassivellaunum et reliquās gentēs; atque Trinobantēs auxilium Rōmānōrum contrā Cassivellaunum implōrāverant, quia rēgem suum trucīdāverat. Numerus hostium magnus erat; nam, ut Caesar affirmat, infīnīta multitūdō hominum erat in parte merīdiānā Britanniae."

[i] What were the soldiers and sailors doing when Caesar hurried to his forces? (2)

[ii] How do we know that the Romans’ enemies confided in Casivellaunus? (1)

[iii] Who was Casivellaunus? (2)

[iv] What happened in 54BC? (4) [(i) magna pars ¦ (ii) gentium Britanniae merīdiānae ¦ sē (iii) sub Cassivellaunō ¦ (iv) contrā Rōmānōs (i) consociāverant.

[v] Give an accurate description of the location of the territory of Casivellaunus (5) [(i) Flūmen Tamesa ¦ (ii) fīnēs Cassivellaunī ¦ (iii) ā fīnibus gentium maritimārum (i) sēparābat; (iv) ab oriente erant fīnēs Trinobantium; (v) ab occidente Britannī mediterrāneī.]

[vi] What had been the previous situation between Cassivellaunus and other tribes? (2)

[vii] Why did the Trinobantes seek help from the Romans? (1)

[viii] Why was the enemy large? (2)