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Roman calendar Posted by leire on Jan 29, 2012
The calendar we use nowadays corresponds with very light variations, to the one that Julius Caesar used. However, in the history of the Roman calendar we can distinguish three stages: initial, Numa Pompilius’ reform, and the reform of Julius Caesar. In the initial phase, which was a lunar calendar, the year was made up of…
Education in Ancient Rome Posted by leire on Jan 25, 2012
OLD PERIOD (until the second century BC): At this time in the history of Ancient Rome, the education of children was limited to the preparation that their father could give. It was an education of farmers, based fundamentally on respect for the customs of the ancestors (mos maiorum). From early childhood they were taught that…
The Latin Passive Voice Posted by leire on Jan 22, 2012
In Latin, as in other languages, the verb has two voices: active and passive. For crating the passive voice, Latin language uses two different systems: one for the present tense, and another for the perfect tense. PASSIVE VOICE IN PRESENT TENSE: To form the passive voice of present tense, both for the indicative and…
Latin Epigraphy III: abbreviations Posted by leire on Jan 14, 2012
PRAENOMINA: some of the most common names A. Aulus L. Lucius SEX. Sextus AP. Appius M. Marcus S. (SP.) Spurius C. Caius (Gaius) P. Publius T. Titus CN. Cnaeus (Gnaeus) Q. Quintus TI. Tiberius D. Decimus SER. Servius FILIATION: it is usually written between nomen and cognomen F. Filius, -a LIB. Libertus, -a CON…
Latin Epigraphy II Posted by leire on Jan 11, 2012
TYPES OF INSCRIPTIONS Honorary: in statues or monuments devoted to an important figure. Name of the figure (in dative, also in nominative or otherwise), name of the dedicator (nominative), dedication reasons and possible additional sentences. Funerary: in the tombs or other monuments erected in memory of a deceased. The formulas varied over time and places, but the…
Latin Epigraphy I Posted by leire on Jan 8, 2012
Epigraphy is the science of the inscriptions. Latin epigraphy works on reading and desciphering the Latin inscriptions. It also helps to interpret the writings and to infer data that can be applied in many fields. Epigraphic texts are authentic and original compared to other writings that are copies (of copies). There are inscriptions of various types…
Christmas carols and Latin verbs in imperative Posted by leire on Dec 29, 2011
When we are in Christmas I remember my childhood (probably the same happens to most of you who were grown up in christian countries). We used to eat, drink and sing a lot 🙂 and one of the most famous Christmas carols was and still is Adeste Fideles (“Oh Come, All Ye Faithful” in…