{"id":3109,"date":"2014-05-21T16:35:39","date_gmt":"2014-05-21T16:35:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/?p=3109"},"modified":"2014-06-06T17:22:33","modified_gmt":"2014-06-06T17:22:33","slug":"5-dating-tips-in-latin-from-the-roman-poet-ovid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/5-dating-tips-in-latin-from-the-roman-poet-ovid\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Dating Tips in Latin from the Roman Poet Ovid"},"content":{"rendered":"

So today, we are going to be exploring dating and courting as it would have been handled in Ancient Rome. However, it may surprise some of you to know that the standards of dating MAY not be that different from then and now.<\/p>\n

The Roman poet Ovid wrote various works within his career, but none so insightful for the everyday person as his Ars Amatoria\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0(The Art of Love). The piece was written about 2 C.E.; however, much of the books’ advice and methods are still applicable to today.<\/p>\n

\"Statue<\/a>

Statue (1887) by Ettore Ferrari
commemorating Ovid’s exile in Tomis; Courtesyof WIkiCommons & Ettore Ferrari<\/p><\/div>\n

The Ars Amatoria<\/i> was\u00a0composed of several books; the first was\u00a0to show a man how to find a woman. In the second book, Ovid shows how a man may keep her. Lastly, the third book (written two years after the first book was published) gives women advice on how to win and keep the love of a man.\u00a0 He opens\u00a0the\u00a0third book with:<\/p>\n

\"Amazon<\/a>

Amazon preparing for a battle (Queen Antiop or Armed Venus), by Pierre-Eug\u00e8ne-Emile H\u00e9bert 1860 (National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.) Courtesy of WikiCommons & Palbrattberg.<\/p><\/div>\n

Arma dedi Danais in Amazonas; arma supersunt,<\/em>
\n quae tibi dem et turmae, Penthesilea, tuae.<\/em>
\n ite in bella pares<\/em><\/p>\n

I have given weapons to the Greeks against the Amazons; the weapons
\nwhich remain I give to you, Penthesilea, and your crew.
\nGo as equals into war!<\/p>\n

– Ovid, Ars<\/b>.III.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Ovid’s progressive attitude is both condemnable and humorous. The fact that he equates dating\/courting to war and his advice to weapons is one in which most people can understand. Dating can be\u00a0a dangerous tricky game.\u00a0 Here are ten crucial pieces that I believe Ovid would agree are essential for dating (for either sex):<\/p>\n

1. LOVE WON’T JUST HAPPEN; YOU NEED TO GO OUT AND FIND IT!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Dum licet, et loris passim potes ire solutis,<\/em><\/strong>
\n Elige cui dicas ‘tu mihi sola places.’<\/em><\/strong>
\n Haec tibi non tenues veniet delapsa per auras:<\/em><\/strong>
\n Quaerenda est oculis apta puella tuis.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

While you are still\u00a0permitted,\u00a0and you are able to go anywhere because you are not\u00a0tied down,
\nChoose someone!\u00a0and say to\u00a0your chosen:\u00a0‘You alone are perfect (suitable) for me.’
\nThis woman will not come having fallen to you through thin airs:
\nYou must look with your eyes for a suitable girl.<\/p>\n

– Ovid, Ars<\/b>.I.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

2.\u00a0YOU PROBABLY WON’T FIND MR.\/MS. RIGHT AT THE CLUB;\u00a0ALCOHOL & LOW LIGHTING ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Be<\/a>

Be cautious in low light situations!
Courtesy of WikiCommons & J. Samuel Burner.<\/p><\/div>\n

Et Venus in vinis ignis in igne fuit.<\/em><\/strong>
\n Hic tu fallaci nimium ne crede lucernae:<\/em><\/strong>
\n Iudicio formae noxque merumque nocent.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

And Love in wine becomes a fire within a fire*
\nOn this occasion, don’t you trust deceptive candle light too much
\nNighttime darkness and wine harm your decision making and standards<\/p>\n

-Ovid, Ars<\/b>.I.<\/p>\n

*[Love\/Lust is already passionate and fiery; wine will just add fuel to the fire.]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

3. LOVE IS A MARATHON NOT A SPRINT:SOMETIMES FRIENDSHIP LEADS TO LOVE<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Beware<\/a>

Beware the “Friend Zone”
Painting by Marcus Stone. Courtesty of WikiCommons & Public Domain.<\/p><\/div>\n

Nec semper veneris spes est profitenda roganti:<\/em><\/strong>
\n Intret amicitiae nomine tectus amor.<\/em><\/strong>
\n Hoc aditu vidi tetricae data verba puellae:<\/em><\/strong>
\n Qui fuerat cultor, factus amator erat.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It is necessary not to always be asking for the hope of love*
\nLet love\u00a0appear disguised by the name of friendship
\nWith this\u00a0entrance (friendship),\u00a0I have seen the surrendering words of fierce women
\nThis (friendship)which\u00a0has been the cultivator, a lover was made.<\/p>\n

*[i.e. Don’t come off desperate!]<\/p>\n

-Ovid, Ars<\/b>.I.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

4. KEEPING UP APPEARANCES & PLAYING TO YOUR STRENGTHS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

ADVICE FOR WOMEN<\/p>\n

quam paene admonui,<\/em><\/strong>
\n ne trux caper iret in alas,<\/em><\/strong>
\n neue forent duris aspera crura pilis!<\/em><\/strong>
\n exiguo signet gestu, quodcumque loquetur,<\/em><\/strong>
\n cui digiti pingues et scaber unguis erit.<\/em><\/strong>
\n cui grauis oris odor numquam ieiuna loquatur<\/em><\/strong>
\n et semper spatio distet ab ore uiri.<\/em><\/strong>
\n si niger aut ingens aut non erit ordine natus<\/em><\/strong>
\n dens tibi, ridendo maxima damna feres.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The thing which I was nearly going to say:
\n[address] the odor in your armpit so that it does not\u00a0go rancid
\nand your legs so they are not rough with hair.
\nWith little gesture make, whenever she may speak
\nthe woman who\u00a0will have\u00a0fat fingers and dirty nails.
\nAnd to the woman whose\u00a0breath of her mouth is burdensome, never speak hungry
\nand always keep some distance away from your lover’s mouth.
\nIf you\u2019re teeth are blackened, large, or not in line
\nfrom birth, you will carry the greatest error by laughing.<\/p>\n

-Ovid, Ars<\/b>.III.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

ADVICE FOR MEN<\/p>\n

Sit bene conveniens et sine labe toga:
\nLingula ne rigeat, careant rubigine dentes,
\nNec vagus in laxa pes tibi pelle natet:
\nNec male deformet rigidos tonsura capillos:
\nSit coma, sit trita barba resecta manu.
\nEt nihil emineant, et sint sine sordibus ungues:
\nInque\u00a0cava nullu<\/em><\/strong>s stet tibi nare pilus.<\/strong>
\n Nec male odorati sit tristis anhelitus oris:<\/strong>
\n Nec laedat naris virque paterque gregis.<\/strong>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

[ See to it that..]He is well-composed, and\u00a0the toga without\u00a0a stain.
\nThat the tongue not be unbending, and that your teeth be without tartar,
\nNor let your foot swim about while walking in a\u00a0loose shoe(s).
\nDon’t let a\u00a0hair-cut badly\u00a0fashion your stiff hair;
\nLet your hair and your beard be\u00a0trimmed by a familiar\u00a0hand.
\nAnd that it doesn’t stick up too much, and that your nails are without dirt.
\nAnd no hairs stand out in the cavities from the nostril.
\nNor let\u00a0the breath of\u00a0your sad\u00a0mouth be badly scented,
\nNor [smelling] as a man or billy-goat annoy nostils.<\/p>\n

-Ovid, Ars<\/b>.I.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

5. AVOID THOSE WHO DO NOT WANT THE SAME TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP AS YOU<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Portrait<\/a>

Portrait of Casanova by Alessandro Longhi. Courtesy of WikiCommons, Public Domain, and Fang2415.<\/p><\/div>\n

Sed uitate uiros cultum formamque professos<\/em><\/strong>
\n quique suas ponunt in statione comas.<\/em><\/strong>
\n quae uobis dicunt, dixerunt mille puellis;<\/em><\/strong>
\n errat et in nulla sede moratur Amor.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Avoid those men who\u00a0swears by looks and culture,
\nwho keeps their hair carefully in place.
\nThe things they tell to you they\u2019ve told a thousand girls:
\ntheir love wanders and lingers in no one place.<\/p>\n

Ovid, Ars<\/b>.III.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

So today, we are going to be exploring dating and courting as it would have been handled in Ancient Rome. However, it may surprise some of you to know that the standards of dating MAY not be that different from then and now. The Roman poet Ovid wrote various works within his career, but none…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":101,"featured_media":3158,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3691,60854],"tags":[235614,60850,99,60862,60861,3746,60869],"class_list":["post-3109","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latin-language","category-roman-culture","tag-ancient-rome","tag-classic-culture","tag-latin","tag-latin-grammar","tag-latin-language-2","tag-latin-literature","tag-roman-history"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3109","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/101"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3109"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3109\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3159,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3109\/revisions\/3159"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3158"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3109"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3109"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3109"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}