Latin Language Blog

A new year is will start soon and perhaps you’ve been thinking about mastering the Latin language as your New Year’s resolution. If so, then check out these books :

Learn to read Latin by Andrew Keller and Stephanie Russell

*Appropriate for beginner and intermediate students

Pros :

-very thorough grammar explanations.

-contains lots of readings from various authors like Cicero, Catallus and Caesar

-the workbook that accompanies this book contains numerous drills

Cons :

-the textbook itself is a bit pricy. The textbook + workbook = close to $100 or more on Amazon.com

-have to ask for a separate key from publisher (key does not come with the book)

Getting Started with Latin by William E. Linney

*Appropriate for beginner students

Pros :

-contains practice drills with answer key in back

-lessons are cumulative

-lessons are easy to understand and master

Cons :

-doesn’t cover advanced material; won’t be able to read Latin texts after finishing the book

Wheelock’s Latin by Frederick M. Wheelock and Richard A. Lafleur

*Appropriate for advanced beginner, intermediate and advanced students

Pros :

-good grammar explanations

-reasonable price (under $15 as of Dec. 2010 on Amazon.com)

Cons :

-moves at fast pace; must be very self-motivated to learn

Lingua Latina by Hans H. Orberg

*Appropriate for intermediate to advanced learners

Pros :

-instant immersion; the whole text is written in Latin

-engaging and humorous text

-reasonable price (under $20 as of Dec. 2010 on Amazon.com)

Cons :

-answer key, drills, and audio readings have to be purchased separately

Of course you can also learn Latin with Transparent Language by going to blogs.transparent.com

-The Transparent Latin Premium Edition costs $89.95 and includes vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening comprehension practice.

-The Byki Deluxe 4 costs $69.95 and allows you to learn Latin phrases and vocabulary in a native accent.

Ludi refers to the mass games held to entertain the Roman public. There were many different kinds of ludi. For instance ludi compitalicii (crossroads games) were games held at the intersection of neighborhoods. These games were hosted by neighborhood communities and guilds, which involved members of the plebian class, slaves and freedmen.

Other ludi included venationes, which were hunting games. Exotic animals like lions, tigers, and elephants were imported from Africa and Syria. If the crowd was especially bloodthirsty, the emperor would allow the ritual of Damnatio ad bestias. Damnatio ad bestias was a punishment were a human being would be left in the ring with a savage animal. The person condemned to this punishment was often maimed or eaten to death by the animal. Usually the people who died in this manner were bestiarii (majority being condemned criminals) or humiliores (Roman citizens of low birth). The difference between venationes and the gladiator games were that the gladiators were often armed with weapons when fighting wild beasts. Oftentimes in the venationes, the person was unarmed and ill trained to fight, which often resulted in that person’s death. In between the blood filled acts, trained animals like dogs and birds would perform tricks to make the crowd laugh.

A deptiction of a hunting scene in the ludi

The ludi was not always just about blood and death. There were other entertainments like theatrical performances, chariot and horse races, and athletic contests. Originally the ludi were performed as part of a religious ceremony to appease the gods. However over time the ludi became a social mechanism to control the large populace of Rome. The ludi were often held by emperors and other wealthy and influential men who aspired to obtain the goodwill of the people. The ludi ensured that the public would not revolt, even when conditions (like grain shortage) threatened the harmony of the Empire.

Depiction of a chariot race

This is where the term panem et circenses (bread and circuses) comes from. Basically panem et circenses refers to the superficial and temporary appeasement of the public to gain widespread approval. The phrase “bread and circuses” is still used today to refer to governments that use measures like tax cuts or social expansion programs that are too costly and are used to obtain votes in the next election.

Rome was an unrivaled power with a mighty military. Even so, there were certain groups and individuals who dared to revolt against the Ancient War Machine that was Rome.

As its name suggests, the Third Jewish Revolt was the third major attempt at liberation from Roman control. When Emperor Hadrian learned that the Jews practiced circumcision, he banned the practice. He also wanted to build a large Roman metropolis over the ruins of the sacred Second Temple. In 132 A.D., the Jews made their move against a Roman garrison in Jerusalem. Emperor Hadrian reacted quickly and eventually defeated the Jews three years later. Although Rome won the war, it sustained heavy casualties that outnumbered the Jewish casualties.

Silver coins that commemorate the revolt

Boudica’s Uprising began in AD 60-61. Boudica was a queen from the Iceni tribe. When her husband died, the Romans annexed her territory as part of the Empire, flogged her and raped her daughters. In revenge, Boudica led several military revolts against the Romans. The Romans eventually defeated her in the Battle of Watling Street, but by that time Boudica had already done too much damage. Archeological digs still show the charred remains of the Roman villages that she razed. The Ancient Romans were never able to capture her body for public display, so she was able to keep her honor.

Territory of the Iceni in present day England

The Third Servile War is also known as the Spartacus Rebellion. For a time, Spartacus was a slave who was able to route a professional Roman army. Of course like many revolts against Rome, his forces were eventually demolished by Crassus. Although Spartacus was defeated, his revolt is an extraordinary story. For a short period of time a mere slave was able to round up other slaves and stir fear in the hearts of the Roman elite. Unlike the revolts of the Jews and Boudica, Spartacus’s revolt threatened the heart of Rome; which was a feat the other revolts were unable to accomplish.

Statue of Spartacus

In all these cases, the rebels were the underdogs. In the eyes of the Romans, slaves, women and non-Romans were considered barbarians and inferior to Roman citizens. These revolts shamed the Romans and caught them off guard. The rebellions gave the Romans a taste of their own medicine and for a short period of time, the leaders of the revolt gave the Romans hell. For that they were remembered by the Romans and for that they will never be forgotten in history.