Gaudeamus Igitur Posted by kunthra on Mar 20, 2011
Gaudeamus Igitur (Let us rejoice) is a popular song among the university students in Europe. It’s a song about the brevity of youth and how one should enjoy it while it lasts. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcQJPo4Hh6k Gaudeamus igitur iuvenes dum sumus (Let’s rejoice while we are young) Post iucundam iuventutem, (After a pleasant youth,) Post molestam senectutem (After…
Priests of Ancient Rome Posted by kunthra on Mar 17, 2011
The ancient Romans were a religious people. They believed that the gods existed and that the gods had the power to bring upon blessings or misfortunes. The belief in the divine placed the priest class of ancient Rome in a powerful position. In ancient Rome, being a priest could boost an individual’s wealth and status…
Ancient Roman Recipes Posted by kunthra on Mar 14, 2011
The upper class of ancient Rome loved to dine and throw banquet parties for guests. These banquets were feasts with all sorts of lavish and exotic dishes. One of the complete collections of ancient Roman recipes that we have a copy of is from a collection called Apicius : De re coquinaria . This title…
Ancient Roman Circuses Posted by kunthra on Mar 12, 2011
The modern usage for the term circus is not that different from the ancient Roman usage for the word circus. Like the ancient Roman circuses, modern circuses provide various entertainments for the audience’s pleasure. However ancient Roman circuses were slightly different in that the entertainment was not suitable for young children. There would often be…
The Censor Posted by kunthra on Mar 10, 2011
Every aristocratic male desired the public office of consul or the title of the emperor. Realistically, not every competent male could become an emperor or a consul. However, there were a myriad of other public office jobs that one could wield considerable power over the city of Rome. One such job was the office of…
Provocative Poetry Posted by kunthra on Mar 7, 2011
Some people have this perception that all Latin poetry is boring, proper and stiff, but that’s not true. For example the Latin poet Marcus Valerius Martialis, also known as Martial, was known to write a few choice poems towards certain individuals: Utere lactucis et mollibus utere malvis: Nam faciem durum, Phoebe, cacantis habes Eat lettuce…
Humanitas Posted by kunthra on Mar 3, 2011
The ancient Romans valued the virtue of Humanitas or “humanity.” The ancient Romans believed that the virtue of humanitas could be acquired by bonae litterae or “good letters.” Bonae litterae included the study of poetry, philosophy and literature. A man who was well versed in the bonae litterae was thought to be equipped to handle…