Ovid, Ars Amatoria 1.67-78
- Tū modo Pompeia lentus spatiāre sub umbrā,
- Cum sol Herculeī terga leōnis adit:
- Aut ubi mūneribus nātī sua mūnera māter
- Addidit, externō marmore dīvēs opus.
- Nec tibi vītētur quae, priscis sparsa tabellis,
- Porticus auctōris Livia nōmen habet:
- Quāque parāre necem miseris patruēlibus ausae
- Bēlides et strictō stat ferus ense pater.
- Nec tē praetereat Venerī ploratus Adōnis,
- Cultaque Iudaeo septima sacra Syro.
- Nec fuge līnigerae Memphītica templa iuvencae:
- Multās illa facit, quod fuit ipsa Iovi.
Operatives, examine the two following columns:
| cupidus - desirous | cupiditās - desire |
| vēlōx - swift | vēlōcitās - swiftness |
| antīquus - ancient | antīquitās - antiquity, ancient times |
The words in the column on the left are all adjectives. The words on the right are all nouns. Notice how it is possible to change many normal adjectives into nouns simply by dropping off their nominative singular ending and then adding the suffix -itās. All nouns formed in this way are 3rd declension and feminine.
Also operatives, it is important to note that you cannot do this with all adjectives in the Latin language, but it does work for many. The point here is that you can recognize the difference between the two.
CULTURALIA Comprehension Questions
Directions: Using the CULTURALIA section of your CODEX as a guide, answer the following questions:
dē actoribus pantomīmīsque
1. Who could be an actor in Rome? Were they respected or not? Explain.
2. What are some of the stock characters in Roman comedy?
3. What do you think the plot lines were generally like? It may be helpful to read a quick summary of Plautus' Miles Gloriosus to get an idea of Roman comedy.
4. What were pantomimes?
5. How were pantomime actors received across time in the empire?
6. What types of clothing would one need in order to pass as either an actor or a pantomimus in Rome?
dē Theātrō Pompēiī
1. When was the Theatre of Pompey constructed? How long did it take to build?
2. Why did Pompey wish to build the theatre? How could the building achieve that goal?
3. What special distinction does the Theatre of Pompey have in the Roman world?
4. Aside from the obvious stage and seating area, what else was considered to be a part of the Theatre?
5. Why do you think Pompey would be concerned with public entertainment?