Horace: He did stuff

Horace lived a very exciting and adventurous life but one of the more interesting things to come from his life happened in death. On his deathbed, with no heirs, he donated his estate to Emperor Augustus. Horace's estate still exists and has now become a place of pilgrimage for the literary elite. What a wonderful meeting place for Latin teachers to hang out and drink tea.

Ovid: He was an interesting guy

When Ovid was exiled to Tomis on the Black Sea by Augustus he was feeling pretty rotten. During his time in exile he wrote two new works: the Tristia and Epistulae ex Ponto. Originally Ovid feared the native barbarians but he eventually makes friends with them, and claimed to have written a poem in their honor. It just goes to show that people can make friends in the strangest places.

Epicureanism

Define and discuss Epicureanism.
The school of philosophy founded by the Greek philosopher Epicurus. It taught that the greatest pleasures in life were obtained through knowledge, friendship, and living a virtuous life. They believed that the ultimate good was to seek modest pleasures that they may attain a state of tranquility and to be free of fear. Also this state would free them of pain. The state was obtained through the knowledge of the workings of the world and knowing limits to their desires. It was originally a challenge to Platonism but was later a main opponent of Stoicism. The students of Epicureanism shunned politics. Although it had a noble cause and strong support it died out by the end of the Roman Empire.

Lyric Poetry

What is lyric poetry? What is the relation of Latin lyric to Greek?

Lyric poetry was poetry written using the meters created by the Greek lyric poets. It was originally meant to be accompanied by a lyre. Latin lyric poetry is based on the meters used by the ancient Greek poets who re responsible for its invention.

Horace: A History

Historical Context



The time in which Horace lived was one of conflict and upheaval. His teen years were overshadowed by the civil war between Caesar and Pompey. He even fought on the side of the tyrannicides after Caesar's assassination. Horace was present at the Battle of Philippi where Octavian and Antony won the war and took control of Rome. He was also around to see Augustus take power and unify the Roman empire for a time of great peace. Horace wrote about the events of the time along with his friend Virgil. It shows in his writing how the roman republic struggled and finally collapsed but was brought back from the brink by an absolute ruler.

Horace's Life.

He was born Quintus Horatius Flaccus on December 8, 65 BCE in the town of Venusia. His father was a freedman who may have been taken captive at one point in time. nothing is known about Horace's mother. Horace's father gave him a good education, one common for the equestrian class at the time. After his initial studies he went to the University of Athens for further learning. It was there that, after Caesar's assassination, he was recruited by Marcus Brutus and joined the Tyrannicide army.In the army he was appointed tribunus militum or military tribune. he fought and lost with the tyrannicides at the battle of Philippi but was pardoned and returned to Italy. He found his estate to have been taken and facing poverty, Horace began to write poetry professionally. He got the job of scriba quaestorius which meant he was clerk to the heads of the Treasury. By the thirties BCE Horace became friends with Virgil and Varius who introduced him to Maecenas. Through his relationship with Maecenas he was able to make his way up the ranks to become acquainted with Emperor Augustus. Not much is known of his later life except he turned down a job to be Augustus' personal secretary. he died on November 27, 8 BCE.

Horace's Writings

Horace wrote for over thirty years and in many different styles. He published several collective works like Book 1 of the Satires. Horace wrote satires which were like conversations. He wrote satires in dactylic hexameter. Horace also wrote odes, and the epodes. His poetry is considered to be in the lyric style.

When Horace wrote Odes the social environment in which he lived played a major role. He references social relationships which were thought taboo. Horace uses word order loosely and does not follow the written rules. Yet his writings are seen by some to be the most beautiful and eloquent. Horace's writings are a true portrait into real Latin speech as well as a reference to the emotions of Romans of the age.

Creepy Caesar Pumpkin Patch

Hello all. The Halloween season is reaching its peak all this week and that means one thing...pumpkins! That's right people I'm referring to the ultimate of ultimate sports.........PUMPKIN CARVING!!!!!!! And in regards to this most noble hobby i have a suggestion to make. Why not take the face of a well known Roman emperor and carve it into a pumpkin. just take a scary one like Caligula and chop up a pumpkin so that it looks just like him. Its a sure fire way to scare some neighbor kids. And a great way to become infamous.

Well kids good luck doing stuff to hinder the neighborhood watch. As for me, I'm off to audit the Lollipop Guild. Until next time...

Super Special Awesome Latin Phrases

It is once again for everyone's favorite weekly event: Super Special Awesome Latin Phrases!!!!!! Halloween is fast approaching and that means that this weeks phrase is a tribute to Star Trek. Here we go...

Me transmitte sursum, Caledoni!
Beam me up, Scotty!

Thats it kids. I have no more energy to continue this week but have fun confusing your friends and family. As for me, I'm off to make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs. Until next time...

Horace lines 30-49

The Fabulous Beasts of Antiquity

Ah! It seems ye adventurous fools have returned to my humble crypt. I'm glad to see that you are prepared for a new tale of a beast most foul. Today I have something special for the likes of you frightful folks. A beast which has several incarnations. that creature is... The Basilisk!!!
The Basilisk was an extremely dangerous serpent which dwelt in North Africa. It was so deadly that its touch alone could kill men and plants. This beast can be found in the medieval bestiaries where it takes the form of a serpent-tailed bird. Let's allow our old friend Pliny the Elder explain: "The Basilisci Serpentis (Basilisk Serpent) also has the same power [to kill like the Catoblepas by sight alone]. It is a native of the province of Cyrenaica, not more than 12 inches long, and adorned with a bright white marking on the head like a sort of diadem. It routs all snakes with its hiss, and does not move its body forward in manifold coils like other snakes but advancing with its middle raised high. It kills bushes not only by its touch but also by its breath, scorches up grass and bursts rocks. Its effect on other animals is disastrous: it is believed that once one was killed with a spear by a man on horseback and the infection rising through the spear killed not only the rider but also the horse. Yet to a creature so marvellous as this--indeed kings have often wished to see a specimen when safely dead--the venom of weasels is fatal: so fixed is the decree of nature that nothing shall be without its match. They throw the Basilisci into weasels’ holes, which are easily known by the foulness of the ground, and the weasels kill them by their stench and die themselves at the same time, and nature’s battle is accomplished."
Quite a good starter pet, in my opinion.

I hope you enjoyed your second look into the darker side of the animal world. I invite you all to return next time and delve deeper into the strange, as we approach the most sacred, Halloween.
As for me, I'm off to beat Starscream in a game of Chess. Until next time...

Lines 10 - 20 of Horace Satire 1.9.

- u u/ - uu/ - -/ - -/ - u u/ - x
Dicere/ nescio /quid pue/ro, cum s/udor ad /imos
- -/ - u u/ - -/ - -/ - u u/- x
Mina/ret talos./ ‘o te,/ Bola/ne, cere/bri
- -/ - -/ - -/ - u u/ - u u/ - x
Feli/ cem’ a/ ieba/ m tacitus,/ cum quidlib/ et ille
- -/ - -/ - -/ - u u/ - x
Garrir/ et, vic/ os, ur/ bam laudret./ Ut illi
- -/ - -/ - u u/ - u u/ - u u/ - x
Nil re/ sponde/ bam: ‘misere/ cupis’ in/ quit ‘ab/ ire;
--/ - -/ - uu/ - u u/ - u u/ - x
Iam/ dudum/ video. / Sed nil agis; / usque ten/ ebo.
- -/ - -/ - -/ - u u/ - u u/ - x
Perse/ quar hinc,/ quo nun/ citer est/ tibi.’ ‘nil / opus est te
- -/ - -/ - -/ - -/ - u u/ - x
Circum/ agi: / quondam/ volo / visere non/ tibi notum,
- u u/ - -/ - u u/ - u u/ - u u/ - x
Trans Tiber/ im lon/ ge cubat/ is prope / Caesaris / hortos.’
- u u/ - u u/ - -/ - u u/ - u u/ - x
‘nil habeo,/ quod agam,/ et non/ sum piger: / usque se/ quar te.’
- -/ - u u/ - u u/ --/ - u u/ - x
Demitt/ o ariculas, / ut ini/ quae / mentis as/ ellus,

Super Special Awesome Latin Phrases

Hello again my ghoulish friends. Halloween is fast approaching and because of the joy of the season I've decided to give a special All Hallows Eve gift to all you Dark Wizards and Sith. That gift, of course, is a new Latin Phrase!!!!! Here we go...

Postatem obscuri lateris nescitis!!!

You do not know the power of the dark side!!!

There you go, my mini dark lords in training. Have fun telling off protagonists and recruiting apprentices. As for me, I have a tee time with Caligula. Until next time...

The Fabulous Beasts of Antiquity

Well, it seems that you have once again stumbled into my Halloween Haunt. That is right, kids. Its time for your old Uncle Crypt Keeper to dust off his old bones for another Halloween themed post. This time I've decided to dust off the old monster manual and pick a few of my favorites. This time we're looking at the lovable forest fairy... Wait, that's not right. Sorry, wrong page... Ah, there it is, the man eating, blood thirsty Manticore.
The Manticore was a Persian beast which preferred humans to any other meal. It had the body of a lion, the face of a man, and a spike-tipped arrow-shooting tail. Pretty nasty fella, huh. Pliny writes about this creature saying: "Aethiopia produces . . . many monstrosities : . . . Ctesias writes that in the same country is born the creature that he calls the Mantichora, which has a triple row of teeth meeting like the teeth of a comb, the face and ears of a human being, grey eyes, a blood-red colour, a lion’s body, inflicting stings with its tail in the manner of a scorpion, with a voice like the sound of a pan-pipe blended with a trumpet, of great speed, with a special appetite for human flesh." Quite the party animal, isn't it?

I hope I, your old Uncle Crypt Keeper, didn't scare you too bad, Kids, because there are plenty more beasties for you all to learn about. For any of you monster hunters out there who like to do their own research, you can find all this info and more from http://theoi.com/.
As for me, well, those vampires aren't going to slay themselves. Until next time...

Phoebus Apollo vs. Artemis Essay

Whatever Diana can do, Phoebus Apollo can do better.
Luke Forrester
Ovid’s Metamorphoses contain myths about numerous powerful creatures and deities.
But among them one set of twins stands out. Phoebus Apollo and Diana are twins who control
very important aspects of nature. Apollo is the sun god who carries the sun across the sky. But
he is also the god of music, the arts, and medicine. His sister, Diana, is a goddess of nature, who
is in charge of numerous nymphs. They are both expert archers and essential to the natural
balance. But in the myths of the Metamorphoses the twins are not represented equally. One of
the two stands out in stark contrast when viewed with the other. One of the twins is easily seen
as the more powerful. That twin is Phoebus Apollo. He is a better fighter, archer, god than
Diana. Apollo is more powerful that Diana because he is tasked the more difficult jobs and
shows his skill more than Diana.
One myth that shows the endurance and power of Phoebus Apollo is Phoebus and
Daphne. Throughout the story, Apollo peruses Daphne because of his love for her. Apollo keeps
chasing after her but she fears the god and because of this asks her father to change her form.
She gets transformed into a laurel bush and escapes from the god. But Phoebus Apollo decides
that because he cannot have the nymph he will wear the laurels as a crown. This shows that
Apollo is never willing to give up. He will endure any situation to get what he desires. And
Apollo also starts a Roman tradition by wearing the crown of laurels. Apollo is held in such high
regard that a simple act of his love inspired an iconic Roman image. And although it can be seen
that Phoebus Apollo lost the day, Daphne will always be seen as his nymph and lost love. So, it’s
true that Apollo has loved and lost, but how is he in a contest?
The story of King Midas is a very well known and popular myth. It involves the foolish
and greedy king of Phrygia who gains the ability to turn objects to gold using his touch. But not
many people are aware that King Midas had a whole different adventure which involved him
judging a musical contest between Pan and Apollo. The contest involved Apollo playing his lyre
and singing against Pan who played his pipe. The mountain god Tmolus was the fair and just
judge. He saw Apollo’s superiority to Pan and declared him the winner. The skill of Pan is well
known, he was the god who invented the reed pipe. But his defeat by Phoebus Apollo shows
that Apollo was the master of musical skill. He even defended the ruling by giving King Midas
the ears of a donkey (Midas had unwisely ruled Pan as the winner). Phoebus Apollo has done
great things on his own but how does he compare when he works with his sister? Is Diana really
more powerful than her sun-god brother? The answer lies in the story of Latona and Niobe.
When Phoebus Apollo and Diana’s mother Latona is angered by a mortal woman, it falls
to her children to dole out the punishment. Latona tells them to kill the children of Niobe as
payback for her arrogance. The twins do just that. Apollo kills the seven sons and Diana kills the
seven daughters. Here is where a hint of symbolism is detected. While it is easily understood
why Apollo would kill the boys and Diana the girls, this shows their measure of strength. Who
would have been harder to kill, seven men or seven women? In the context of the story, the
obvious answer is the seven men. The twins both use the same method to dispatch the children
of Niobe. But Phoebus Apollo comes out the better archer. This myth is the definite proof of
which twin is stronger. Apollo is a better archer, he can defeat stronger opponents, and he has
a take charge attitude. Phoebus Apollo is superior to his sister, Diana.
Although Diana is the twin of Phoebus Apollo she seems to always take the back seat
whenever she is mentioned in a myth. The only exception to this rule would be in the story of
Latona and Niobe, but even there she is shown up by her brother. Diana is more of a figurehead
than a real active goddess. Many of the myths in Metamorphoses have nymphs as main

characters. These nymphs are usually nymphs of Diana, and are vowed to her for life. But in
story Phoebus and Daphne, she isn’t even willing to help one of her own devotes. Diana is
pictured as weak and inactive, a goddess of the earth who seems to just exist. A goddess who
allows her nymphs to be pursued by gods and creatures of all likes. She is much weaker than
her brother and could only aspire to be as powerful as Apollo.
Ovid’s take on the twins Phoebus Apollo and Diana shows that ancient myths
represented the beliefs and feelings of the time. In all the myths he is featured in, Apollo is
shown as superior while Diana doesn’t do much. She will always be second to her brother in all
aspects, from archery to musical talent. Although Diana could be viewed as a strong individual,
she is not represented as one in Ovid’s tome. Phoebus Apollo and Diana always had a strong
bond, but they could never have been equal.

SUPER SPECIAL AWESOME LATIN PHRASES

Hello again my fine feathered friends. Its once again time for SSALP!!! That's right, after all these weeks, I finally abbreviated it. This week I'm giving a gift to all you poetry critics. So, here we go...

Nullo metro compositum est.

It doesn't rhyme.

Have fun making people feel bad about their creativity, kids. As for me, I'm off to take a ride on the Magic School Bus. Until next time...

Philemon and Baucis Translation

Philemon and Baucis
Part 1
The power that heaven has is immense and infinite. Whatever the gods command, is done. Do you doubt, student? I will narrate to you about two trees, a linden tree and an oak in Phrygia. The story is true. I, myself have seen the place, not far is a pool, once a land full of men, now full of water and fish. Jupiter came and Mercury carrier of the caduceus came also as his own father. The gods had assumed the forms of men, and were walking in the land of Phrygia. They begged for rest in a thousand homes, but a thousand homes were closed. However one home was prepared and open to them. This belonged to the pious Baucis and the old Philemon; they were the whole household. And the two were servant and master. When the gods entered the prepared house, the old Philemon commanded the gods to sit, Baucis prepared wine and food (meat, raddish, and eggs). They also prepared the table, but the table was not level. The old strangers were kind, and the gods gave them the greater part of the food and wine.
Part 2
But after dinner the two, the old woman and her husband, saw a miracle. The wine and even the food were still in the bowls. Baucis the pious and Philemon were timid and afraid of the gods faces. The two old folks had a goose; Philemon and Baucis caught the goose and were tempted to kill it, as a sacrifice to the gods. The goose however fled before the gods who said, “Do not kill the goose. We are the gods, Jupiter and Mercury. We ought lay waste to the evil village. But we will give to you a reward. Jupiter transformed the evil village into a pool of water and the wicked people into fish, however the home of the two old pious people he transformed into a temple. The two said to the old people, “What do you desire, just old man and pious woman?” The old people responded, “We desire to be priests in this temple of Jupiter, and since we have had many good years between us, we desire to die at the same hour.” And so Philemon and Baucis were the protectors of the temple for as long as they lived. But once the two grew old in the temple, Philemon the husband put out leaves and Baucis saw Philemon but out leaves. “Goodbye, spouse,” said Philemon, said Baucis, then a tree hid his face. He had been transformed into a tree by Jupiter. Even today these trees stand before the temple of Jupiter in Phrygia: go see them yourself. Many in the temple speak and advocate that they always receive good. They note the names of Baucis and Philemon in this land.

Callisto Part 1 and 2 Translation test

Callisto
part 1
Often the poets would invoke the Muses to narrate stories. "Narrate, O Muse, the story of the nymph Callisto and her son, Arcas." "See the stars in the heavens", said the Muse. "Those seven stars, the great bear, and the other seven stars, the minor bear. The great bear is Callisto and the minor bear is Arcas, her son. Because of the wrath of the queen of the gods, Jupitter transformed the nymph and her son into stars in the sky." Callisto was a nymph whose form was beautiful. She lived in Arcadia. When Jupiter was in the forests and fields of Arcadia, a land the god cared for, the saw the beauty and form of the nymph and immediatly he loved her. Callisto was surely formed. A pin retained her garment and a band held back her careless locks. Callisto was in the forest with Diana and the other nymphs. She carried a javelin and a quiver. Once Callisto was alone and asleep on the grassy ground; Jupiter saw her. The nymph was pleasing to the god. "Surely Juno will not see me doing this," he said, "however if she sees, they will delight in punnishment but dignified punishment." Immeatly Jupitter silulated the form of Diana and approached the nymph in secret. Then Jupiter was the victor; Callisto however, the miserable nymph, known in the forest and by friends and avoided the goddess Diana.
Part 2
Juno the queen od the gods was very angry. The time for punishment was near. When the boy Arcas was born to the nymph, Juno said, "The cause was not delay. See my injury, adultress! But Jupiter is away. He can not save you. I change your beautiful form." She said and grabed the nymph's hair and threw her down on the ground. When the miserable Callisto streched out her arms pleading, her arms grew rough with course hair. No words remained in the nymph; only a horase voice. Callisto was now a wild bear, but her human senses remained. A! How often she would wander in fields that were once her own! A! How often she, terrified, would flee from men and wild animals in the forest, herself an animal.