Epicureanism

Epicureanism is a system of philosophy based on the teachings of the atomic materialist, Epicuris. His philosophy condemned superstition and divine intervention. He believed that his philosophy could free people from the fear of death and bad supernatural forces. He theorized that the soul was made of atoms as well as the body which meant that the body would die with the soul. Which means that no one would go to heaven or hell. He believed that happiness is always achievable and that in order to achieve it one must not desire material possessions.

I think that this view of the world is almost pessimistic, but maybe that's just the Christian in me speaking. I disagree with his view that nothing happens when we die and so does my faith. However, I strongly agree with his belief that people would be happier if they did not value materialistic things so much, even though some materialistic things are necessary.

Introduction

Horace's life was over some very important times in the Roman Empire's history. He lived through the civil war between Caesar and Pompey and 48 BCE Caesar defeated Pompey at the battle of Pharsalus. Caesar went on to rule Rome solely until his assassination in 44 BCE. After his death, there was more fighting led by Brutus and Cassius against Antony and Octavian, who were the heirs to Caesar. Horace was a part of the republican forces that were defeated at the battle of Philippi in 42 BCE by Antony and Octavian. Then Antony and Cleopatra were defeated by Octavian at the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE. Both Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide which cemented Octavian's power. During all of this Horace was writing.

Horace's full name is Quintus Horatius Flaccus and he was born on December 8th, 65 BCE in the town of Venusia in Italy. His father was a freedman or ex slave who worked as an auction agent. Horace was brought to Rome for his early education where he received the usual education for a person of the equastrian or senatorial class in Rome. After his primary education he went on to study philosophy at the university in Athens. During his time in the university there was political turmoil following Caesar's assassination. Six months later Brutus came to Athens recruiting men for his army- Horace was one of those men. He was appointed military tribune, which was considered a very high honor for someone who were not headed for the Senate. That position gave him the title of equestrian. Brutus' republican army lost at the Battle of Actium. Horace's lands were given to Octavian's soldiers and he was left without a job. This opened up the door for him to become a poet. He got a job as a clerk for the trustees of the public treasury. He made a decent salary, but more importantly it gave him time to write. Eventually he began sharing his writings and he became friends with another poet, Vergil. Vergil connected Horace with Maecenas, who became a sponsor of Horace. Maecenas also connected Horace with Augustus. Horace died on November 27, 8 BCE.

Horace wrote his poetry over a period of thirty years. His first publication was Book 1 of the "Satires" in 35 BCE and he published Book 2 five years later. Horace followed in Lucilius' footsteps because he believed him to be the founder of the Latin satire. Then he started writing Epodes. He was inspired by the style of Archiliochus of Paros and he modeled his own writings after him, but used his own subject matter such as political and sexual topics. He then wrote 103 poems of the "Odes" in a collection of 4 books. They were lyrics poetry and they were considered to be written in the meter used by Greek poets. His last piece of writing is the "Epistles". They were letters that raised issues of literary or philosophical matters.

Live the Words

We have a mug at my house that is from a line of products called "Quoteables". On the mug is a quote from Osho that says, "Life should not only be lived, but celebrated!" I was looking on their website and i found a quote that I'm pretty sure is from Seneca. It says, "Thank you for being." I liked that quote so I looked for some other meaningful quotes from Seneca. This is what I found:

"Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body."

"As long as you live, keep learning how to live"

"I shall never be ashamed of citing a bad author if the line is good."

"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult."

"Let tears flow of their own accord: their flowing is not inconsistent with inward peace and harmony."

"It should be our care not so much to live a long life as a satisfactory one."

take home quiz- scanning

--/--/-uu/-uu/-uu/-x
inter/pellan/di locus /hic erat:/ 'est tibi /mater,
--/--/--/-uu/-uu/-x
cogna/ti, quis/ te sal/vo est opus/ haud mihi/ quisquam.
--/-uu/--/--/-uu/-x
omnis/ composu/i:' fel/ices! /nunc ego /resto.
-uu/--/--/-uu/-uu/-x
confice/! namque in/stat fa/tum mihi /triste, Sa/bella.
-uu/-uu/--/-uu/--/-x
quod puer/o ceci/nit di/vina mo/ta anus /urna:

Horace 1-20 Scanning

-- /-- u/u - - / - -/uu/-x
Ibam /forte vi/a sacra /sicut /meus /est mos.
-uu /- u-/ - uu/- -- / -x
Nescio /quid medit /ans nugarum,/ totus in /illis.
--/- -/- -/- uu /--u /-x
Accurr/it quid/am no/tus mihi /nomine /tantum.
--/--u/u--/--/-uu/-x
Arrept/aque ma/nu: "quid ag/is, dulc/issime/ rerum?"
uu-/--/--/--/--/-u-uu-x
'suavit/er, ut/ nunc est/ inquam,/ et cup/io omnia quae vis.'
- - - - -- -- -
Cum adsectaretur: 'numquid vis?' occupo, at ille
--/ - -/- -/- u-/ - -u/ -x
noris /nos in/quit doct/i sumus. /hic ego:/ pluris
--/-uu/--/--/--/--/-x
hoc in/quam mihi /eris. /Miser/e deis/cere /quaerens
-u /uu -/--/ - - /- - /- -/u -/- x
Ire /modo oc/ius, /inter/dum con/sister/e, in /aurem.
--u /-uu/ - -/-u-/--/--x
Dicere/ nescio /quid pu/ero, cum/ sudor/ ad imos.
--/--/- u u /u--/-x
Mina/ret tal/os. o te,/ Bolane, cer/ebri
--/-u-/--/--/-u-/-x
Feli/cem aiebam /tacit/us cum /quidlibet /ille
--/- u-/ -- /- u- /- x
Garri/ret vi/cos ur/bem laud/aret. ut /filli
- -/ - u- /- -/ u u-/ --/--x
Nil res/pondebam/: ' miser/e cupis/ inquit /abire;
-u u-u------
Iam dudem videro. sed nil agis, usque tenebo
-u-/ - u - /-- /- uu /u- -/- -x
Persequar/ hinc, quo nun /citer /est tibi/. Nio op/us est te
--u/--/- uu /--/-- u/u -x
Circuma/gi: quon/dam volo /viser/e non ti/bi notum.
- u-- -- u- - -
Trans Tiberim longe cubat is prope Caesaris hortis
- u u/ - - ---- - - u u - u u - x
‘nil habe/o, quod ag/am, et non/ sum piger:/ usque se/quar te.’

All You Can Eat

For most people in ancient Rome, grain or corn and oil and wine were staples in their diets. Cereals were also staples and they were made from husked wheat made into porridge. Naked wheat was later made into bread, which was the most often eaten food in ancient Rome. It was sometimes sweetened with honey or cheese and eaten along with sausage, domestic fowl, game, eggs, cheese, fish, or shellfish. Fruits and nuts were also very popular.

Roman Games

Romans played ball games in an field that was previously used as a drill ground for soldiers that was by the Tiber River. It was very popular. Even Caesar and Augustus exercised there, however women were not allowed to participate. They played games such as handball, soccer, field hockey, catch, and dodgeball.

When in Rome

One of my favorite movies is "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy". This blog really doesn't have too much to do with ancient Rome, but I think it's really funny and it has the word Rome in it- so technically this blog is within the terms of our Latin class.

So, I'll set the stage.

Ron Burgandy and Veronica Corningstone are on a "professional date" and Veronica makes an interesting drink order. Ron comments on the complexity of the drink order and Veronica says "When in Rome". Ron has no idea what that means.

Veronica: A Manhattan,and kick the vermouth in the side with a pair of steel-toed boots.

Waiter: Certainly.

Veronica: Thank you, Scott.

Waiter: Thank you.

Ron: Wow.Quite a drink order.

Veronica: Oh, well, when in Rome.

Ron: Yes?Please, go on.

Veronica: Uh, do as the Romans do?It's an old expression.

Ron: Oh! I've never heard of it.

But it gets better...

Later on in the movie Ron and Veronica's relationship becomes more serious, and Veronica wants to remain professional at work.

Veronica: I'm having very strong feelings for you, Mr. Burgundy.

Veronica: But it's very important to me that I be viewed as a professional.

Ron: Right.

Veronica: Hmm.

Ron: When in Rome.

Veronica: Yeah. That, uh, expression doesn't really apply to what I'm talking about.

Ron: Oh, I'm..

Veronica: What I was saying.

Ron: I still don't quite understand what it means.

Veronica: Oh, no.You'll find it.

All Roads Lead to Rome

Every continent on Earth has at least one city named Rome, except Antarctica. This blog features the city of Rome, New York. Rome was established in 1870. It is 72 square miles and located in the geographical center of NYS at the foothills of the Adirondacks. Due to its strategic location it was one of the most important transportation points during the settling and founding of America in the 1700-1800s.

Fun Facts about Rome, New York:

• population: 34,950 (according to 2000 US census)
• Francis Bellamy, Author of the "Pledge of Allegiance" lived, and is buried, in Rome
• Dr. Potter, who lived at the Beeches, invented the first 2-piece handheld telephone.
• Rome was home to the 30th anniversary of Woodstock in 1999

Artemis and Apollo

Of the twin gods Apollo and Artemis, Artemis was the strongest goddess. However, she was the female twin and Apollo was the male twin. Males are generally regarded as being physically stronger than females and in the Roman Empire it was unheard of for a female to be stronger than a male. Apollo was also the god of the sun. The sun is largely regarded as being stronger than the moon, of which Artemis is the goddess of. The sun is thought to be more powerful than the moon because it can light the Earth. Therefore, humans are awake and able to do work. People rest and sleep when the moon is out. People usually do not think of sleeping as stronger or more powerful then accomplishing work. Hence, the sun is seen to be stronger than the moon.
So, with the sun being stronger than the moon and males being stronger than females it only makes sense that the male god would be the god of the sun and the female goddess the goddess of the moon. Artemis was also the goddess of the nymphs. Many myths are of the stories of nymphs that were raped by male gods. Rape itself is an act in which one person (usually a male) asserts his dominance over a weaker, more vulnerable person (usually a female). He takes advantage of the vulnerability of the female. Apollo himself was guilty of this crime. He raped one of Artemis’ nymphs, Daphne. The fact that Apollo and the other male gods were able to overpower the nymphs and rape them shows that they were physically stronger than Artemis and her nymphs.
However, the term “strong” has more than one meaning. It can mean something more than brute, physical strength. One can have strength of character, strength of mind, and strength of perseverance. Artemis may not have been the strongest twin physically, but she had the strongest mind and the strongest character. Apollo and many of his fellow male gods had very weak characters. They were obsessed with sex and would get it from their desired partner by any means necessary. Perhaps the greatest show of the male gods’ lack of character and integrity is in the myth of “Callisto”. Callisto was one of Artemis’ nymphs. The god Jupiter raped her and she conceived their son Arcas. Callisto and her son were shunned and were later turned into the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. All of these bad things happened to Callisto because of Jupiter’s selfish desire.
By Roman standards Apollo was stronger than Artemis because he was a male; but there are more important things in life than physical strength, especially when that strength is misused, like when Apollo raped Daphne. So what if Apollo brings the sun every day with his chariot? Is he really chasing away darkness? He brought darkness to women. He helped to create a world where women only mattered for making dinner and children and bringing pleasure to men. The stories of the male gods served as a model for young Roman men. Thus, it was common for women to be raped in Ancient Rome. The only thing that made the male gods better than humans was their strength. They had no higher code of morals and they were just as susceptible to temptation as humans are. That is why Artemis is the strongest of the twin gods. She may not be as strong as Apollo, but what Apollo has in physical strength he lacks in strength of character.

ig-pay tin-lay

Pig latin really has nothing to do with the language of latin, but one would think so because of its name. The word "latin" in the name is a deliberate misnomer because the language sounds foreign. However, it is quite easy to speak. You simply put the first syllable at the end of the word and move the second syllable to the front. Then you add the "ay" sound to the end of your new word.

see if you can translate this famous latin phrase out of Pig Latin: "pe-caray em-dieay"

Romulus and Remus: The Ultimate Your Mom Joke

Romulus and Remus' real mother (according to myth) was the priestess,Rhea Silva. She was sworn to celebacy. However, the god Mars took a liking to her and visited her one night during which she conceived the twins. Being that they were born to a priestess, they were unwanted. So they were sent down the Tiber River. A she- wolf found them and suppousedly suckled them. Sceptics say that it was Loba, the wife of Faustulus was actually the one who raised them. The name Loba means wolf, which is Lupus in Latin.

Another fun fact: Professor Lupus from Harry Potter transformed into a werewolf every full moon.


Yet another fun fact: the word Lupus is another form of the word luna means moon- which is what makes werewolves transform.

Callisto translation test

Part One
Often poets ask the Muses to tell the story. "Tell, O Muse, the story of the nymph, Callisto and her son, Arcas."
"Look to the stars in the sky," said the Muse. "See the seven stars, Ursa Major, and the other seven stars, Ursa Minor. Ursa Major is Callisto, and Ursa Minor is Arcas, her son. Because of the anger of the queen of the gods, Jupiter transformed the nymph and her son into stars in the sky."
Callisto is a nymph whose form is pretty. She lives in Arcadia. The god Jupiter went to woods and fields in Arcadia, the land of the goddess, he saw the form of the beautiful nymph and loved her instantly. Certainly the form was Callisto. The band that retained her clothes neglected to retain her hair. Callisto was in the woods when Diana and the other nymphs left.
Then Callisto was alone and asleepin the grassland; Jupiter saw her. The nymph was pleasing to the god. "Juno must not see me here," He said, "or if she does see me, I will have an expensive price to pay."Then Jupiter took the form of Diana and the nymph recognized the goddess. Jupiter was the victor; However Callisto, the miserable nymph, in the familiar woods and familiar friends saw that it was not the goddess Diana

Part Two
Juno, the queen of the gods was very angry. The time was appropriate for human punishment.
When the boy Arcas was born to the nymph, Juno said, "No cause is hindered. See my wrong, adulteress!" But Jupiter is away. He will not protect you. I will change your beautiful figure."

She said and held the hair of the nymph and threw her down on the ground. While the miserable Callisto stretched out pleading arms, they arms grew rough, shaggy hair. No words remain in the nymph.; only a hoarse voice. Callisto is now a wild bear, but human sense remained in the bear. A! How often she wandered in fields formerly her own. A! How often had she fled, terrified, men and wild animals, she herself an animal.