Sum Quod Eris (What I am You will be) ~ tombstone inscription

So, Halloween is right around the corner and in honor of that holiday we will be studying
roman tomb stone inscriptions as a lesson in epigraphy--the study of inscriptions. Funerary inscriptions often include personal information including name and rank. These can be very helpful in discovering the relatively unknown histories of groups in a culture (not the rich and powerful men) such as slaves, women, and children.

Each of you will be given a tombstone to study based upon this list. They are all about the same length, but I would like you to pick three and post them on the comment section of the blog. It will be first come first serve and you may not get your top choice, you can also tell me that you don't care and I can assign you a random inscription. Some students may be assigned two short inscriptions if I run out of long ones, in that case the report should include all the requirements available for both tombstones.

The website http://www.pyrrha.demon.co.uk/ntombs2.html will be useful in interpreting the inscriptions.

The activity: Due: Oct 20
In honor of Halloween you will make your own tombstone including your name, dates of birth and death, any sports teams or accomplishments, family members, or a funny saying. These will be displayed around the room or in the hallway for the rest of October.

The Report will be a Power Point presentation and include: Due Oct 30

1. The picture of the inscription
2. The full inscription transcribed in Latin
3. The full inscription translated into English (I will need to review to make sure the translation is correct and I can help with any troubles, you are not alone!)
   
4. Any information you can draw from the inscription that is not explicitly mentioned. e.g. what is the significance of only two names?
   
5. If an army rank was mentioned I want you to be able to explain what they did.
   
6. Any other information you think is both appropriate and interesting

You can pick from:
1. Sarcophagus fragment for Raconia Pia http://www2.cnr.edu/home/araia/inscriptions/inscr5.jpg
2. Tablet for Acilia Lamyra http://www2.cnr.edu/home/araia/inscriptions/inscr6.jpg
3. Altar for Primigenia http://www.vroma.org/images/raia_images/altar_primigenia2.jpg
4. Altar for Julius Martianus and his wife http://www2.cnr.edu/home/araia/inscriptions/inscr10a.jpg
5. Monument by Cartilia Materna http://www.vroma.org/images/raia_images/inscription_cartilia2.jpg
6. Cippus for Heria Thisbe http://www.vroma.org/images/raia_images/inscription_thisbe4.jpg
7. Tablet for Cornelia Frontina http://www.vroma.org/images/raia_images/inscription_frontina.jpg
8. Stele for Dasumia Soteris http://www.vroma.org/images/raia_images/inscription_dasumia2.jpg
9. M Aquilio Marci http://www.vroma.org/images/raia_images/inscription_dasumia2.jpg
10. Luci Laeli Fusci http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bkh/epigraph/images/large/terme_evocatus.jpg
11. Aulus Cornelius Auli http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bkh/epigraph/images/large/terme_slave_horrea.jpg
12. Gnaius Munantius http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bkh/epigraph/images/large/vatican_equestrian2.jpg
13. Tito Saberio http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bkh/epigraph/images/large/vatican_equestrian_officer.jpg
14. Tablet for Parthenopeis http://www.vroma.org/images/raia_images/inscription_parthenopeia.jpg AND Altar for Annia Isis http://www2.cnr.edu/home/araia/inscriptions/inscr1a.jpg\
15. Publius Valerius Publi http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bkh/epigraph/images/large/terme_goldsmith.jpg AND Sextus Rufio Achilleo http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bkh/epigraph/images/large/terme_child.jpg

"If history repeats itself, ..."

"...and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must Man be of learning from experience." ~George Bernard Shaw

First, I would like you to read the article Empires of Absent Mind: Rome and the USA by Dr Mike Ibeji on the BBC History website http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/empiresofabsentmind_article_01.shtml and respond in a paper (requirements listed at the bottom of this entry).

Second, I would like you to then consider the Shaw quote and how it and the article applies to the United States in the present. What lessons can be learned from the Roman Empire? How does this information shape your views of American society? What cautions do you feel would be important to employ? What dangers are we facing?

This paper should be reflective, include at least one quote from Dr Ibeji's essay (properly cited, i.e. Ibeji pg. 1), and be 1-2 pages double spaced. Please do not give me a political diatribe about the current political/military situations. However, if you can draw parallels that can explained and clearly backed up you may use it has part of your paper.

Hannibal Crossing the Alps

Hannibal Barca was the leader of the Carthaginian Army during the Second Punic War (218 BCE-201 BCE ) between Rome and Carthage. He moved his army from Spain to Italy by crossing the Alps (a very difficult feat at that time) and traveling around Italy and decimating any Roman army that stood in his way, but he never conquered the city of Rome. We will discuss this war on Friday but before that I would like you to consider what it would have been like to be one of Hannibal's soldiers who crossed the Alps to attack Italy.

Please read this passage from Livy 21. 32. 6-7. It describes what was going through the minds of the soldiers when they first saw the Alps. I would like you to write a letter home to your "Mater et Pater" or "Uxor (wife)" describing where you are, what you are doing, any fears or anxieties, what you see, and anything else you think you would include. Remember that you came from Africa and Spain before planning to cross into Italy.

Other requirements: 1 page approximately, double spaced, 12 point, TNR font. If you make up names they should be properly written in Latin (Nominative case). You will be graded on how well you read and understood the account in Livy and expand it to your own purposes. Please do not quote the passage, but expand upon the ideas you come across, this is only to help as a way to get you to think in that mind set.

Due date: due in class on Friday for cultural discussion.


Livy 21. 32. 6-7

Then they [the soldiers] were restored to fear when it [the mountain] was perceived, although with the first report, in which truth is often born into greater fears by uncertainties, never the less having drawn near the height of the mountain and seeing the snow almost mixing with the sky, the shapeless huts situated on the cliffs, the pack animals and the herd animals shriveled with cold, the men unshaven and unclean, everything living and inanimate rigid with cold, and other thoughts more horrible than words told.

Author Report Guidelines and Sign-up

Our first culture report for Latin is going to be an author report.
You an use the list*** on: http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/as a source for possible authors.
***Note: please do not use the categories of Miscellany, Christian, Medieval, or Neo-Latin. If you want to use an author not listed please ask permission from me. I would prefer no Popes, Saints, or other religious figures.

Biography Guidelines:
1. 1-2 pages, single spaced 14 pt. Times New Roman font. Student's name on top right hand header. Don't forget to cite your sources (does not count toward your page requirement)
2. Name (full name, i.e. Gnaeus Julius Caesar, Marcus Tullius Cicero)
3. Picture if available
4. Dates of birth and death
5. Major works and number of works total
6. What Genre(s) did the author write
7. Some quotes (G-rated please) that must be approved by me.

Academic Source guide

If I give you the assignment to use an outside source you should look for:
1. Books or magazines published no more than 15 years ago
2. Websites with the endings .org, .edu, .gov, .net, etc. (even though wikipedia is a .net it is not reliable). Some examples are in the box on the Left hand side of the screen under the heading Classics Sources.
3. When in doubt ask. You can either bring in the publication or email me the website and I will review it to see if it is an appropriate source.
4. Any sources used must be put in a bibliography, any quoted must also go on a works cited page.
5. Please follow AMA guidelines for citing sources. Two good sites for how to use AMA are listed in a box on the Left hand side of the screen.

Rules and regulations for the blogs

Please read and understand the following rules for this blog.

A few rules for blogging for this class:
1. No obscenities, foul language, or insults.
2. This will be graded so keep in mind spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
3. Respond to my question by 11:30 pm the evening that it is assigned.
4. When asked to use a source please do not use wikipedia.org. It is not a reliable site.
5. When writing an assignment you must cite the website where you got your information , and if you quote them I also need that citation.
6. Only add hyperlinks that are appropriate for the assignment.