Founding of Rome: A little Latin for the Brain.

Everyone should know the foundation story of Rome. Let's start the story together in the original Latin.

The foundation story of Romulus and Remus can be found in Plutarch's Life of Romulus, but better known would be Book I of Livy's Ab urbe condita (From the Founding of the City)  (Literally: From the City having been founded). Thus, Livy's Ab urbe condita begin with the founding of Rome and progress to his modern day.

sed debebatur, ut opinor, fatis tantae origo urbis maximique secundum deorum opes imperii principium. (1.4)

But it was destined, as I believe, by the fates the origin of such a great city and the beginning of the greatest power secondary/next after the power of the gods.

BREAKDOWN:
 sed debebatur:
                 Sed= But
                debebatur is from debeo, it is a verb that is 3rd singular (he, she, it) imperfect and          passive meaning "it was destined."

  ut opinor:
                  ut= as, how
                opinor 1st person singular meaning= I believe, suppose or think. (opinor resembles English opinion.)

fatis tantae origo Urbis
              fatis= is from the noun fatum which is neuter (as opposed to masculine or feminine) and the form is neuter plural ablative. Ablative is a case in Latin that serves many functions, but in this scenario- I would argue this is an ablative of origin or means. "By means of the fates this was destined" or " This was destined originating from the fates." For translation though "by the fates."

            origo= is nominative feminine singular. It is from origio meaning origin or beginning. The nominative case is equivalent to the subject in English( The subject is who or what the sentence is about. Romulus kills Remus. Romulus is the subject, kills is the verb, and Remus is the direct object). So, origo is actual the subject of the first half of this sentence along with being the subject of debebatur: "But the origin was destined, as I believe, by the fates."

             tantae Urbis= tantae is an adjective that is from tantus meaning "so great/ such great." Since it is an adjective it agrees with the form and case of the word it goes with: Urbis. Urbis is from urbs, its form here is singular, feminine, genitive (as is tantae) and it means city. The genitive case is mainly used for possession or description. Here it could be either. For example: origo tantae Urbis all go together to mean= "the origin of such a great city or the beginning of a city so great." The genitive will usually have an "of" before it in the English translation.


maximique secundum deorum opes imperii principium:
            *This next part is somewhat tricky
    Although maximique is the first word it is not our nominative (or subject) of this clause. Our clue that we are looking for a new subject is the "que." Que is another way of saying "and" in Latin instead of using "et." When one uses "que" for "and" instead of "et;" there are certain rules that must be remembered for it use:

1. que is always affixed to the end of a word and will usually not stand alone.
2. The que is your indicator that a new part or clause of a sentence has begun.
3. Most importantly, the word that que is affixed to , although it comes before the que, it is part of the que clause.

  For example "maximique" is actual maximi + que. Maximi come from Maximus which somewhat resembles maximum and thus it means greatest. Maximi is an adjective which means it goes with something and it matches the case and form of that word.

 Remember, case and form are usually detected by a words ending**. Maximi ends with an "I." Now, if maximi went with "fatis tantae origo Urbis" does its ending of "I" match anything? It does not! Of course it does not, because it doesn't go with that clause! maximi goes with : "secundum deorum opes imperii principium." Because the "que" attaches it to this clause! Now what does the maximi look like it goes with?

    maximi and imperii  are a match! However there are not our nominative/subject, but they are genitive neuter singular. They come to mean "of the greatest power."

   Our nominative/subject is principium which is a neuter noun that means the beginning. So far, the translations follows: And (que) the beginning (principium) of the greatest power (maximi + imperii). It is important to note that principium is nominative because it is also (along with origo) the subject of debebatur. THUS: "The origin of so great a city and the beginning of the greatest power was destined, as I believe, by the fates."

 Now in English, when we have two subject our verb tenses change. For example: "The origin of the city was destined." This is grammatically correct in English. But,  "The origin of the city and the beginning of greatest city WERE destined. This is grammatically correct in English.

However, the Latin verb debebatur is 3rd singular not 3rd plural (3rd singular= he, she, it is/was  VS.  3rd plural= they are/were). The reason why Latin takes a 3rd singular verb instead of a 3rd plural verb is for emphasis.

The Latin translation would be literally: "But the origin of so great a city was destined, as I believe, by the fates AND the beginning of the greatest power was destined." We take the verb debebatur twice, but the Romans did not need to write it twice since it is the only verb in the sentence and thus understood to be taken with both origo and principium.

Now, we have yet to deal with:  secundum deorum opes .
    Secundum is another adjective that is neuter nominative agreeing with principium. However this adjective should be taken as a verbal adjective. Thus it is a "beginning of the greatest power that is secundum (second/ next/after)".  The reason this has to be a verbal adjective is because a normal adjective would be translated as the "secondary/next beginning of the greatest power." Contextually, this makes no sense.

    Opes Deorum= opes is plural feminine accusative. Accusative is a form that similar to the direct object in Latin. So, "the beginning of the greatest power that is second to the opes (power)." Deorum is plural masculine genitive meaning gods. THUS. " and the beginning of the greatest power second to the power of the gods."
        
TRANSLATION COMPLETE. ONE SENTENCE DONE.



As one can see Latin is a very complex language that has various nuances that test and train the mind to look for patterns and logical sequences in putting sentences together. There will be a further translation of Livy's description of the birth of Romulus and Remus along with the she-wolf that finds them.






 [**DISCLAIMER: THIS RULE OF MATCHING ADJECTIVE ENDINGS TO NOUNS IS NOT 100% USABLE BUT A MAJORITY OF THE TIME IT CAN HELP]

Is Latin Really a Dead Language in our Society?

The world is moving at the speed of light with out new gadgets and gizmos from tablet to Androids to laptops to game consoles, et cetera. There seems to be no more time for the language that has immensely shaped our current culture: Latin.

Often, those who study or have learned Latin at some point in their academic career have asked themselves or even their professors: "What is the point of learning Latin? It is a dead language, right?"  

To this question, I shudder to think what else in our world may be forgotten or disregard for simply being "considered" redundant or outdated.

Latin is every bit alive and thriving as other foreign language, perhaps even in some regards more so than current day foreign languages. It is older than most languages and is the great-great-grandfather of many European and romance languages today. Due to Latin's age, its "believed" redundancy, and the outdated attitude adopted towards it, now more than ever there is a new interest and spark concerning Latin, Latin speakers, writers, students, users, and it's usefulness.

Recently, June 14th to be exact, the British Museum conducted a three day debate on " Does Latin Have a Future?" The debate discussed at some length Latin's place in classrooms, culture, and overall it's usefulness in society today. While some may not see the usefulness for Latin within our culture let alone our classrooms; many would beg to differ.

Mary Beard ,a Classics Professor at the University of Cambridge and the Chair for the Debate "Does Latin Have A Future," made the following video on Latin basics and in everyday life. In this video, she shows to some young students Latin's common place appearances in our language, literature, and even pop icons.

 

While there are many who despise Latin for its antiquated content and the blogger Donald Clark being one of them (refer to his 10 Reason Not To Learn Latin). I would say unto them that Latin is alive in everyday literature, culture, politics, grammar, et cetera.

 

 

Latin's Usefulness:

1. Learning Latin helps you learn other languages.
2. Latin is extremely precise in its cases, structure and reason which therefore allows students of Latin to have extremely skillful cognitive and logical skills.
3. Learning Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes will increase your vocabulary and understanding of other words.
4. Learning Latin will aid in reading Harry Potter Spells (Harry Potter Spells)
5. "A rudimentary knowledge of Latin cuts down the labor and pains of learning almost any other subject by at least 50%." quoted in Herald Scotland.
6. "It is a piece of our culture. One grasps the roots." quoted in Latin Returns From the Dead in German Schools.
7. Besides ancient Greek, it is the only language that we can read texts from more than 2,000 years ago on philosophy, politics, religion, science, culture, et cetera. It is part of the foundation of Western Civilization and should not be overlooked or forgotten. 

 

Further proof that Latin is not a dead language: Pope Francis or Franciscus has his own twitter account in which he tweets in Latin: Summi Pontificis Breviloquentis Twitter. The twitter account launched in January with a name based on Cicero's quote "Breviloquentem iam me tempus ipsum facit," – Time itself makes me now speak briefly

.

He has over 114,000 followers and counting; while it is sanguine to assume that all 114,00 speak or understand Latin- it is highly unlikely. However, his tweets, which average no more than a sentence or two, may give rise to others taking an interest to Latin.

Beyond the cliché Latin incantations on television or even movies, Latin is in the roots of Western Civilizations not only grammatical, but the culture of the Romans can be seen as well. So, the next time you watch a movie, hear Latin, think of a fancy word, or even architecture- you may be looking at something that has evolved from 2,000 years of Latin making its way into our culture.

Here are some examples and food for thought:

                                                    E Pluribus Unum= One From the Many

 

e.g. = "exempli gratia" = "For Example"

i.e. = "id est" = "That is"

A.D. = "Anno Domini" = "The year of God"

 

Jefferson Memorial in Washington D.C 1943

Pantheon in Rome 126 AD (Hadrian Rebuilt)

 



Making 2,000 Year Old Bread

In AD 79, a baker put his loaf of bread (or panis) into the oven. Nearly 2,000 years later it was found during excavations in Herculaneum. The British Museum asked Giorgio Locatelli to recreate the recipe as part of his culinary investigations for 'Pompeii Live from the British Museum'.

Video: Making 2,000 Year Old Bread

Ingredients

400g biga acida (sourdough)
12g yeast
18g gluten
24g salt
532g water
405g spelt flour
405g wholemeal flour

Carbonised loaf of bread, AD 79, Roman, Herculaneum. © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Pompei

Method

Melt the yeast into the water and add it into the biga. Mix and sieve the flours together with the gluten and add to the water mix. Mix for two minutes, add the salt and keep mixing for another three minutes. Make a round shape with it and leave to rest for one hour. Put some string around it to keep its shape during cooking. Make some cuts on top before cooking to help the bread rise in the oven and cook for 30–45 minutes at 200 degrees.

300: Rise of an Empire

300 was a film that inspired many people to take a closer look at the Ancient World and in particular the Spartans. "ἢ τὰν ἢ ἐπὶ τᾶς"  "With it or on it"

As seen in my previous post, I have much investment in this new sequel or addition to the 300 series. I enjoyed immensely translating Herodotus Book 8, which feature the Battle of Salamis.....

 

And Artemisia.....Eva Green will do me proud. I have dedicated hours of my life to understanding Herodotus' portrayal of this woman for his Histories and literally for all history. She is a strong, unbending, intelligent, cunning, and powerful woman.

 

 

*

 

Eva Green as Artemisia Queen of Halicarnassus

Eva Green as Artemisia Queen of Halicarnassus

 

Eva Green as Artemisia Queen of Halicarnassus

I am excited to see the battle ramming with actual "rams." I recall being in Professor Chrissanthos' courses in which he would show Ben Hur for his "ramming example." But NOW, he will have an actual example within this film which may even slow it down (since the 300 films seem to do the slow motion fighting).

Ancient Greek Reconstruction Trireme
notice the ram is made of metal at tip on the left side

 

Vase painting of an ancient Greek ship
notice the ram is the tip on the left side

 

 

*τῶν μέν νυν ἄλλων οὐ παραμέμνημαι ταξιάρχων ὡς οὐκ ἀναγκαζόμενος, Ἀρτεμισίης δὲ τῆς μάλιστα θῶμα ποιεῦμαι ἐπὶ τὴν Ἑλλάδα στρατευσαμένης γυναικός· ἥτις ἀποθανόντος τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτή τε ἔχουσα τὴν τυραννίδα καὶ παιδὸς ὑπάρχοντος νεηνίεω ὑπὸ λήματός τε καὶ ἀνδρηίης ἐστρατεύετο, οὐδεμιῆς οἱ ἐούσης ἀναγκαίης. (7.99.1)

 

On the one hand, now, I make no mention of the other commanders since not being compelled (to do so), but on the other hand, of Artemisia whom I make a marvel (awe) at especially; as a woman was marching against the Greek: who, when her husband died, this woman having the power, although her son becoming a young man, on account of both courage and manly spirit she was serving, since for her there was no compulsion

NFL+Classics

As a Classicist often I have prized myself with never giving into such trivial things as Reality Shows, Sports, or other leisurely or "otium" ideals. However, being in relationship with a historian who is able to see an opportunity to learn not only personally but methodically from the popular iconography and lifestyles of today- I have learned.
 I did not watch a single game of NFL football until I was 21 years old. I matter I prized myself on, since as a proud member of academia my time was better spent reading, researching, or realizing bigger and better goals.
 However, it was one Edward Serrano that pointed out to be that NFL teams, coaches, and quarterbacks are the modern day generals similar to Ancient Rome. They are "in your face" politicians who flout their schemes, maneuvers, and victories all over the media and in the public face. I find it similar to the culture of Ancient Rome and Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars or even Augustus' Res Gestae Divi . They show the public how their victories come about and leave them idolizing players even similar to Gladiators and the Games.However, the players may be renowned for the skill, but ultimately it is the general "coach" who is remembered for several "plays" and "strategies" and not for a simple "Hail Mary." One could argue that winning the Superbowl is a modern day triumph for these "generals."





The following was written about RG3, the rookie quarterback who took the Redskin to the Playoffs.

Imagine, Mr. President, years from now. Griffin runs for governor of Texas. Who would bet against him? Highly educated, devoutly Christian, a native son, a Hall of Fame quarterback in the most football-crazed state in the union. It may seem high-flown, horse-before-the-cart kind of thinking, but if it's not in the back of Griffin's mind, why, I ask you, would he have learned Latin? Latin.


At the height of his college career, when his days were packed with football and schoolwork and charity and a girlfriend, Griffin voluntarily took an accelerated class in the language of Caesar. (Maybe he wants to be emperor. Robertus Griffinus Tertius.) Could it be that he wanted to know the language of the Founding Fathers, the language that refined and honed the genius of Jefferson and Adams?

His professor, Tommye Lou Davis, says Griffin was one of the finest students she's ever had, and the most conscientious. She remembers the first day of class. She arrived early, as always, and was shocked to find the school's star quarterback already there. It was early morning, he was coming from a two-hour workout, and yet he was waiting for her.

He then sat front and center (his seat in most classes, and in the Redskins' classroom) and methodically laid waste to Horace, Ovid, Virgil. His translations were perfect, Davis says. His declensions and conjugations sublime. And he found time and energy to tutor fellow students.

Davis describes a day when she handed back a stack of graded tests. Before opening his, Griffin turned to a student he'd been tutoring and asked in a whisper how the student had done. The student gave thumbs-up. Only then did Griffin smile, relax, check his own grade. To Davis, that was the epiphany, from the Latin epiphania. He cares, honestly cares, about others. Translation: He's not what we've come to expect from phenoms. "Robert is real," she says. "People are hungry for something real."

The whole article may be found at:RG3 and Latin

Latin for Latin Speakers

 Language is often taken for granted in this technology driven age. Students find themselves relying more and more on auto spell check, dictionaries, translating devices, and so on to aid them in their study and command of their own native language along with those they are taught or under take to learn.
  Latin is somewhat of a more difficult idea. While it is considered a dead language....dead in the sense of the lack of common day speech- it is still alive and thrives.


As the following can be seen: Septimana

Septimana Californiana, based on the lovely campus of Loyola Marymount University, is a full-immersion Latin workshop offering thought-provoking discussions, readings from Latin literature, Latin composition exercises, communal meals (most of which are included in the price), and informative lectures given by expert Latin speakers on a variety of topics. Participants will also enjoy guided tours, given in Latin, to many of Los Angeles' sights. Excursions include the Huntington Library, the Getty Center, the Long Beach Aquarium, and downtown Los Angeles.
Program Dates: July 1-8, 2013
Head Instructor: Dr. Stephen Berard, World Languages, Wenatchee Valley College.


As also can be seen are podcast from Finland: Nuntii Latini

TedED. Roman Family

TedEd.Four sisters in Ancient Rome - Ray Laurence
How did the young, wealthy women of Ancient Rome spend their days? Meet Domitia and her sister Domitia and her sister Domitia and her sister Domitia. Ray Laurence sketches the domestic life of leisure that these young girls lived, despite little recorded information on women from this otherwise well-documented era.

Ray Laurence (University of Kent):
After completing his PhD, Ray taught Roman history in four Universities (in the same week!) as a part-time sessional teacher (Durham, Manchester, Lancaster and Newcastle) before moving on to a temporary and then permanent appointment as a lecturer at the University of Reading.
Over 13 years in Reading, he taught Roman History and contributed to courses on the Classical Tradition. This included the development of the teaching of the City of Rome to both undergraduates and postgraduates. In 2005, he moved to the University of Birmingham - where he taught courses on Pompeii; Roman Italy; and contributed to the multi-disciplinary module on Cities.
He has been appointed as Chair of the Canterbury Heritage Partnership, which has been established by Canterbury City Council with a view to the development of plans relating to the future of Museums in Canterbury (including the Roman Museum) and the Coastal district (including Herne Bay Museum).
Ray has supervised PhD students to completion on a variety of topics in Roman History, Roman Archaeology and the Reception of Antiquity. He particularly welcomes PhD applicants who wish to work in his areas of research expertise in Roman Social History and Roman Archaeology.


                                        




























Courtesy :http://ed.ted.com/lessons/four-sisters-in-ancient-rome-ray-laurence