Myths and Legends: Glaucus and Scylla

Glaucus and Scylla. To find out more about Scylla and her love for Glaucus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

In a story told in Ovid's Metamorphoses, Scylla was a nymph and Glaucus (once a fisherman, now a god of the sea) fell in love with her. He went to the witch Circe to ask for a love potion, whereupon Circe fell in love with Glaucus. What a love triangle! Circe was insanely jealous of Scylla and poured a poison into the water where Scylla bathed. As soon as Scylla entered the water, she was transformed into a savage monster with six heads and twelve feet, along with the heads of wolves that emerged from his waist. She went on to be known as one of the most savage sea monsters, paired with the whirlpool Charybdis. Meanwhile, in today's image, you see Scylla in her happier days as a lovely nymph!

You can also find more myths and legends for the week of Feb. 26 - Mar. 3 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.

Myths & Legends: Feb. 26 - Mar. 3

Feb. 19-25 - Feb. 26 - Mar. 3 - Mar. 4-10

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For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Reference Page.

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Romulus and Remus with the Wolf. To find out more about Romulus and his brother Remus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

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Cydippe with Acontius's Apple. To find out more about Acontius and Cydippe, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

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Glaucus and Scylla. To find out more about Scylla and her love for Glaucus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

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Achilles and Troilus. To find out more about Achilles and Troilus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

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Odysseus and Diomedes. To find out more about their raid on Rhesus, the Thracian king, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

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The Death of Epaminondas. To find out more about the dramatic death of the Theban general Epaminondas, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

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Pentheus. To find out more about the death of Pentheus, King of Thebes, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

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Myths and Legends: Romulus and Remus

Romulus and Remus with the Wolf. To find out more about Romulus and his brother Remus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Romulus was the legendary founder of Rome, and Remus was his brother. The grandfather, Numitor, had been the king of Alba Longa, but Numitor's brother, Amulius, deposed Numitor and also Numitor's sons. He let Numitor's daughter, Rhea Silvia, live, but he made her a Vestal Virgin so that she could not conceive heirs who might be rivals to Amulius's claim to the throne. The god Mars, however, came to Rhea Silvia and she conceived the boys Romulus and Remus. When the the boys were born, Amulius left them out in the wilderness to die, but they were found and suckled by a she-wolf, as you can see here.

You can also find more myths and legends for the week of Feb. 26 - Mar. 3 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.

Round-Up: February 26

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email. Plus, you can find some Latin "pipilationes" at my Proverbia Latina feed.

HODIE: ante diem quartum Kalendas Martias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too, along with an easy-to-read prose presentation of the story:

• Lupus et Canis Macer, a long version of the famous story of the fat dog and the free wolf, adapted from LaFontaine.
• Corvus Aegrotus, the story of the crow on his deathbed who hopes the gods will save his life.
• Apes et Pastor, the story of someone who is persuaded that honey is not worth the trouble.
• Mus et Felis, the story of a foolish mouse who wanted to befriend a cat.
• Asinus et Galli, the story of a donkey who suffered not only in life, but also in death.

I've picked out my favorite one, the story of the price of the honey, Apes et Pastor, to share with you here in the blog:

Apēs in cavā quercū mel faciēbant. Pastor vērō in eās, operī intentās, forte incidit; idque sēdulō agēbat, ut favōs auferret; quod cum sēnsissent apēs, furōre percitae hinc et illinc circumvolant, suīsque hostem abigunt acūleīs. Ille tamen victus, "Valēte (inquit), Ō ferōculae, aeternum valēte! Nōn adeō mel dēsīderō, ut ā vōbīs illud accipiam."

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: You can get access to ALL the "proverb of the day scripts" (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Nil timeo (English: I fear nothing).

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Nil homini certum (English: Nothing, for a man, is certain)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Historia magistra vitae (English: History is the teacher of life). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

Maxims of Publilius Syrus: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Cave amicum credas, nisi si quem probaveris (English: Beware of trusting your friend until you've tested him).

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Piscis primum a capite foetet (English: The fish starts to stink from the head - which, metaphorically, means that corruption of the body politic also starts from the top; from Adagia 4.2.97).

For today's image, here is an illustration for the story of the long-suffering donkey, Asinus et Galli:

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Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Round-Up: February 25

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email. Plus, you can find some Latin "pipilationes" at my Proverbia Latina feed.

HODIE: ante diem quintum Kalendas Martias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too, along with an easy-to-read prose presentation of the story:

• Arundo et Olea, the story of an upright - and upright - olive tree.
• Vidua et Asinus, a Renaissance fable of public gossip and scandal.
• Cervus et Cornua, the sad story of the stag who admired his horns overmuch.
• Accipitres et Columbae, the story of the doves who foolishly brought about peace among the hawks.
• Hercules et Plutus, the story of a hero's scorn for material wealth.

I've picked out my favorite one, Vidua et Asinus, to share with you here in the blog - it's a long story but a very funny one! Plus, be sure to check out the painting of the "green donkey" which I found, by the marvelous Chagall - infra.

Vidua quaedam, coelibātum exōsa, nūbere cupiēbat sed nōn audēbat, verita vulgī irrīsiōnēs, quī maledictīs eās solet incessere quae ad secundās trānseunt nuptiās. Sed commāter eius, quam contemnendae essent populī vōcēs hāc arte mōnstrāvit. Iussit enim asinum album, quem vidua habēbat, viridī colōre dēpingī et per omnēs vīcōs circumdūcī. Quod cum fieret, tanta admīrātiōne ab initiō omnēs invāserat, ut nōn sōlum puerī, vērum etiam senēs hāc rē īnsolita mōtī asinum animī grātiā comitārentur. Deinde cum huiusmodī animal quotīdiē per urbem dūcerētur, dēfiērunt admīrārī. "Itidem (inquit ad viduam commāter) ēveniet tibi. Sī enim virum accēperis, aliquot diēs eris fābula vulgī. Deinde hic sermo conticescet."

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: You can get access to ALL the "proverb of the day scripts" (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

3-Word Mottoes: Today's 3-word motto is Dum vivo, prosum (English: While I live, I am useful - a very civic-minded motto!).

3-Word Proverbs: Today's 3-word proverb is Naturam Minerva perficit (English: Minerva puts the finishing touches on Nature - with Minerva here symbolizing wisdom and the skills of which she is the goddess).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Mutantur mores tum cum cumulantur honores (English: Characters change when public acclaim accumulates).

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is Thesaurizate vobis thesauros in caelo, ubi neque erugo neque tinea demolitur (Matt. 6:20). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

Elizabethan Proverb Commentary: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Taverner: Optimum est aliena insania frui: It is best to use an others mans madnes. Wee use, enioje, or take the commoditie of other mens madnes, when the thing that other men do rashely or foolishlie, wee applie to our profite, pleasure and commoditie.

Today's Poem: Today's verses are from a wonderful epigram by Martial (V.58), with a word list at NoDictionaries.com:

Cras te victurum, cras dicis, Postume, semper:
   dic mihi, cras istud, || Postume, quando venit?
Quam longe cras istud! ubi est? aut unde petendum?
   Numquid apud Parthos || Armeniosque latet?

English: "You are always sayingthat you're going to start living tomorrow, Postumus, tomorrow - but tell me, Postumus, that tomorrow of yours, when will it get here? How far away that tomorrow is! Where can it be? Whence can it be sought? Surely it's not hiding among the Partians and Armenians?" And, of course, by referring to the Armenians and Partians, Martial means to say that the tomorrow is all the way on the other side of the world, as far away from here and now as can be.

For today's image, here is an illustration for the story about the green donkey, Vidua et Asinus, by one of my very favorite painters, Marc Chagall:

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Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Round-Up: February 24

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email. Plus, you can find some Latin "pipilationes" at my Proverbia Latina feed.

HODIE: ante diem sextum Kalendas Martias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too, along with an easy-to-read prose presentation of the story:

• Corvus et Mercurius, a funny little story about the crow's religious hypocrisy.
• Haedus et Lupus, the story of a goat who would rather be sacrificed than be eaten by a wolf.
• Mula et Musca, the story of a fly who thinks she can boss the mule around - but she's wrong.
• Gallus et Feles Lecticarii, the story of a rooster who thought he could employ cats as his litter-bearers.
• Aries et Taurus, the story of a ram who thinks he is big enough and bad enough to fight with a bull... but he was wrong!

I've picked out my favorite one, the story of the perfidious crow, Corvus et Mercurius, to share with you here in the blog:

Corvus, laqueō captus, Apollinī ut opem ferret supplicat, tūra et odōrēs illī incendere pollicitus. Perīculō līberātus, eius quod prōmīserat oblītus est. Rursus aliō irrētītus laqueō, Apolline praeteritō, Mercurium invocāvit, spondēns eī sacra factūrum. Cui ille, "Apage, omnium nequissime; nōn est quod tibi fidem habeam, quī priōribus nōn stetistī prōmissīs, et Apollinī līberātōrī dēbitum nondum solvistī.

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: You can get access to ALL the "proverb of the day scripts" (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

Tiny Proverbs: Today's tiny proverb is: Nil time (English: Fear nothing).

3-Word Mottoes Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Post nubes lux (English: After clouds, the light).

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Qui fuit rana, nunc est rex (English: He who was a frog is now a king - which is kind of like a fairy tale, in miniature).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Fatuus fatua loquetur (English: The fool will speak foolish things).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Ipso ex Iove germen (English: A sprout from Jupiter himself; from Adagia 4.10.86 - this is something you can say of someone with exceptional talents - a chip off the old divine block!).

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Μέγα τὸ στομα τοῦ ἐνιαιτοῦ (English: Great is the mouth of the year... just think of all the things it has devoured in time!).

For today's image, here is an illustration I picked out for the story of the rooster with his feline employees, ha ha - Gallus et Feles Lecticarii:

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Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Myths and Legends: The Three Daughters of Cecrops

The Three Daughters of Cecrops. To find out more about King Cecrops, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Cecrops founded the city of Athens and was its first king. This painting shows the three daughters of King Cecrops with the infant Erichthonius. The story goes that the lame god Hephaestus tried to rape Athena. As they fought with one another, some of Hephaestus's semen fell on Athena's thigh; she scraped it off and cast it to the ground. From that semen sprang the infant Erichthonius, a strange little fellow as you can see. Athena wanted to conceal the child, so she placed him in a box and entrusted that box to the three daughters of King Cecrops. When the women dared to open the box and saw the bizarre infant, they went mad and threw themselves to their deaths from the height of the Acropolis!

You can also find more myths and legends for the week of February 19-25 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.

Round-Up: February 23

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email. Plus, you can find some Latin "pipilationes" at my Proverbia Latina feed.

HODIE: ante diem septimum Kalendas Martias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too, along with an easy-to-read prose presentation of the story:

• Leo et Rana, a story about an indignant lion and a noisy frog.
• Inimici, a story of how misery loves company!
• Phoebus et Boreas, the famous story of the contest between the Sun and the Wind, in a long version adapted from LaFontaine.
• Canis et Pastor, the story of the punishment inflicted on the dog who ate sheep from his own flock.
• Duo Calvi, the ironic story of two bald men who found... a comb - a funny little fable and one that is great to look at for the iambic meter; it's very easy to read, with only a couple of metrical resolutions.

I've picked out my favorite one, the lion and the frog, Leo et Rana, to share with you here in the blog:

Leo, audītīs rānae clāmōribus, prīmum animō valdē perculsus est, quod crēderet ingentem animantem auctōrem esse tantī clāmōris. Animō sēnsim firmātō, circumspicere, et contrā illum clāmātōrem, quisquis esset, sēsē parāre, et ad pugnam accingere. Cum autem videt prōrēpentem rānam dē propinquō lacū, ibi leo, simul indignātiōne simul etiam pudōre affectus, pede illam conculcātam attrīvit.

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: You can get access to ALL the "proverb of the day scripts" (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Mente manuque (English: By hand and mind).

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Nil sine numine (English: Nothing without divine power - and for some notes on numen, check out my latest Tres Columnae blog post)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Avarum irritat, non satiat pecunia (English: Money provokes the greedy person; it doesn't satisfy him). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

Maxims of Publilius Syrus: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Beneficium accipere libertatem est vendere (English: To accept a favor is to sell your freedom).

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Asinus ad tibiam (English: The donkey listening to a flute - which is something like our "bull in a china shop," since the donkey is notoriously un-musical; from Adagia 4.1.47).

For today's' image, here is Aractingy's illustration for the fable of the contest between the North Wind and the Sun, Phoebus et Boreas:

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Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Round-Up: February 22

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email.

HODIE: ante diem octavum Kalendas Martias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too, along with an easy-to-read prose presentation of the story:

• Securis et Lignator, the story of the trees who turned out to be their own worst enemies.
• Corvus et Lupi, the story of the crow who feigned friendship with a pack of wolves.
• Taurus et Vitulus, the story of a bovine generation gap.
• Lepus et Vulpes, the story of the rabbit and the fox asking Jupiter for presents.
• Asinus et Cicadae, the story of a donkey who wanted to chirp like a cricket instead of braying like a donkey.

I've picked out my favorite one, the story of the poor donkey, Asinus et Cicadae, to share with you here in the blog:

Asinus, cum cicādās canentēs audīvisset, et concentūs suāvitātem mīrātus esset, interrogābat eās quō victū ūterentur, ut vōcem adeō dulcem clāramque ēmitterent. Cumque illae rēspondērent sē rōre vescī, asinus, dum aberrat, expectāns rōrem quī noctibus fit, famē interiit.

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: You can get access to ALL the "proverb of the day scripts" (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

Tiny Proverbs: Today's tiny proverb is: Nosce teipsum (English: Know yourself).

3-Word Mottoes Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is In libertate labor (English: In freedom, hard work - but the work of a free man is very different from the work of a slave).

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Asinus gestat mysteria (English: The donkey is carrying the religious icons - an allusion to the famous fable of the donkey who thought the people were worshiping him, rather than the divine icon he carried on his back).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Qui arat olivetum, rogat fructum; qui stercorat, exorat; qui caedit, cogit (English: He who plows the olive yard asks for the harvest; he who uses fertilizer, demands it; he who prunes, compels it - a great agriculture metaphor that can stand for all kinds of life's endeavors where persistence and hard work are required).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Ulysseum commentum (English: A contrivance worthy of Odysseus; from Adagia 2.8.79 - and this Latin word commentum has all those connotations of fabrication and fictitiousness which suit Odysseus perfectly!).

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Ἀνόητος νεοττὸς ἑκὼν δείκνυσι τὴν αὐτοῦ νοσσιάν (English: The foolish chick exposes himself by sticking outside of the nest… it's a dangerous world for the little chicks: staying in the nest is best!).

For an image today, here is an illustration for the story of the trees and the woodcutter's axe, Securis et Lignator:

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Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Myths and Legends: Sword of Damocles

The Sword of Damocles. To find out more about the moral lesson taught by this legendary sword, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

The sword does not actually belong to Damocles; instead, it is an anecdote provoked by Damocles, a courtier who flattered King Dionysius II of Syracuse. Damocles told the king how fortunate he was to live a life of power and luxury. Dionysius explained that there was nothing to envy, and he then offered to trade places with Damocles. When Damocles took his seat upon the throne, Dionysius arranged to have a sword suspended over his thread, dangled on a single hair from a horse's tail. Damocles got the message: it might look like the king has an enviable position, but he lives a life of constant fear.

You can also find more myths and legends for the week of February 19-25 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.

Myths and Legends: Zeus and Amalthea

Zeus and Amalthea. To find out more about the goat who nursed the infant Zeus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

In this sculpture by a young Gian Lorenzo Bernini (just seventeen years old), you can see the Goat Amalthea with the infant Zeus and a Faun. Sometimes Amalthea is shown as a goat, as here, and she can also be represented as a nymph tending a flock of goats. Zeus was nurtured by this goat in concealment in order to protect him from his father Cronus. Zeus's mother, the goddess Rhea, fooled Cronus by giving him a stone to devour in place of Zeus and then hid Zeus in a cave on the island of Crete, entrusting him to the care of Amalthea.

You can also find more myths and legends for the week of February 19-25 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.

Myths & Legends: February 19-25

Feb. 12-18 - Feb. 19-25 - Feb. 26 - Mar. 3

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For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Reference Page.

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Zeus and Amalthea. To find out more about the goat who nursed the infant Zeus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

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Perseus Rescues Andromeda. To find out more about Perseus and Andromeda, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

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The Sword of Damocles. To find out more about the moral lesson taught by this legendary sword, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

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Penthesilea. To find out more about Penthesilea, queen of the Amazons, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

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The Three Daughters of Cecrops. To find out more about King Cecrops, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

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Heracles and the Lion. To find out more about the labors of Heracles, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

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Heracles and the Stag. To find out more about the labors of Heracles, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

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Round-Up: February 19

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email. Plus, you can find some Latin "pipilationes" at my Proverbia Latina feed.

HODIE: ante diem undecimum Kalendas Martias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too, along with an easy-to-read prose presentation of the story:

• Ranae et Sol, the story of the threat posed to the frogs by some Aesopic global warming.
• Alauda et Pulli, a long version of the famous story in Gellius of the lark and her chicks during the harvest season.
• Fiber, a story of the beaver's desperate solution to save his life.
• Astrologus, a story of the dangers of looking up and not paying attention to what's at your feet.
• Simia et Vulpes, the poor monkey's plea to the fox for some tail with which to cover its bare bottom.

I've picked out my favorite one, the "global warming fable,, Ranae et Sol, to share with you here in the blog:

Rānae laetābantur, cum nuntiātum esset, sōlem uxōrem dūxisse. Sed ūna cēterīs prūdentior, "Ō vōs stolidōs! (inquit); nonne meministis, quantopere vōs saepe ūnīus sōlis aestus excruciet? Quid igitur fiet, cum līberōs etiam prōcreāverit?

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: You can get access to ALL the "proverb of the day scripts" (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Diligentia ditat (English: Diligence enriches).

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Nutrix curarum nox (English: Night is the nurse of worries - which is to say, you lie there awake at night, worrying, and your worries get bigger and bigger and bigger)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Medicus curat, natura sanat (English: A doctor administers the cure; nature does the healing). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

Maxims of Publilius Syrus: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Heu, dolor quam miser est, qui in tormento vocem non habet (English: Oh, how wretched is the pain which cannot speak out in its agony).

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Veneri suem immolavit. (English: He's sacrificed a pig to Aphrodite - a big mistake, of course, since there is no love lost between the porcine race and Aphrodite - especially since that wild boar killed her beloved Adonis; from Adagia 3.1.30).

For today' s image, ere is an illustration for the story of the Astrologus from the emblems of Alciato:

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Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Round-Up: February 18

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email. Plus, you can find some Latin "pipilationes" at my Proverbia Latina feed.

HODIE: ante diem duodecimum Kalendas Martias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too, along with an easy-to-read prose presentation of the story:

• Rusticus et Coluber, the story of the man who foolishly pitied a snake.
• Asinus tubicen et Lepus tabellarius, a wonderful little story about how everyone - including rabbits and donkeys - have a role to play!
• Quercus et Cunei, the story of an oak's demise.
• Asinus et Lyra, the story of the donkey as a would-be musician.
• Lupi et Pastores, a fable attributed to Demosthenes about the dangers of making peace with your mortal enemies.

I like today's fables so much it's hard to pick a favorite - but I guess it would have to be the story of the lion, the donkey and the rabbit, Asinus tubicen et Lepus tabellarius, which is one of Abstemius's fables:

Leo, rex quādrupedum, adversus volūcrēs pugnatūrus, suōrum aciēs īnstruēbat. Interrogātus autem ab ursō, quid eī asinī inertiā aut leporis timiditas ad victōriam conferre possent, quōs ibi inter cēterōs mīlitēs adesse cernēbat, rēspondit: asinus tubae suae clangōre mīlitēs ad pugnam concitābit, lepus vērō ob pedum celeritātem tabellariī fungētur officiō.

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: You can get access to ALL the "proverb of the day scripts" (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

3-Word Mottoes: Today's 3-word motto is Officium natura docet (English: Nature teaches us our duty).

3-Word Proverbs: Today's 3-word proverb is Memoria exercendo acuitur (English: Memory is sharpened by practice).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Mane sub aurora res vertitur ad meliora (English: In the morning at dawn, things take a turn for the better).

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is Pecuniae oboedient omnia (Ecc. 10:19). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

Elizabethan Proverb Commentary: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Conybeare: Rem acu tetigisti: Thou hast hitte the nayle on the headde, thou hast hitte the verye matter.

Today's Poem: Today's poem is a drinking rhyme from Wegeler, with a word list at NoDictionaries.com:

Pinta trahit pintam, trahit altera pintula pintam;
et sic per pintas nascitur ebrietas.

English: "One pint leads to another, one little pint draws the next, and so pint by pint drunkenness is born." The Latin pinta is not classical Latin, but it is alive and well in English, of course - here's a note about its etymology.

For an image today, here is an illustration for the fable of the lion and his hard-working subordinates, Asinus tubicen et Lepus tabellarius:

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Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Myths and Legends: Hylas and the Nymphs

Hylas and the Nymphs. To find out more about Hylas, the lover of Heracles, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Poor Hylas was a beautiful young prince, and he served Heracles as his arms bearer. When Heracles decided to accompany Jason on the voyage of the Argo with the other Argonauts, he took Hylas with him. At one of their stops, Hylas was kidnapped by the nymphs, as you can see here in the painting. Heracles called and called and called for Hylas, but there was no answer. Finally the Argo sailed away, leaving Hylas behind. Heracles was heartbroken. The grief of Heracles became proverbial: Hylam vocas, "You're calling for Hylas," was a proverbial expression that you meant you were calling out for something in vain, something or someone who is lost to you forever.

You can also find more myths and legends for the week of February 12-18 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.

Round-Up: February 17

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email. Plus, you can find some Latin "pipilationes" at my Proverbia Latina feed.

HODIE: ante diem tertium decimum Kalendas Martias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too, along with an easy-to-read prose presentation of the story:

• Culex et Apis, the story of how the starving gnat begged a bee for food.
• Mures et Feles, the hilarious story of mice and their generals.
• Cornix et Columba, in which the pigeon is sad to be giving birth to her chicks in captivity.
• Terraneola et Vulpes, the story of the fox and the "ground-bird."
• Vipera et Lima, the story of the snake who foolishly tried to bite a file.

I've picked out my favorite one, the story of the conspicuous mice, Mures et Feles, to share with you here in the blog - it's a story found also in Phaedrus, who tells it instead about weasels and mice, not cats:

Mūribus bellum erat adversus fēlēs. Perpetuō autem victī mūrēs in eam ībant sententiam, sē ā fēlibus ideo superātōs esse, quod nullīus regerentur imperiō. Commūnī itaque cōnsēnsū ducēs sibi dēlēgērunt; quī, ut cōnspectiōrēs fierent cēterīs, cornua sibi adaptārunt. Nōn multō autem post pugna commissa est. Murēs iterum victī cessēre, et fugā dīlapsī facile in latēbrās sē recēpērunt. At ducibus obstitit cornuum magnitūdo: captī itaque miserē dīlacerantur.

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: You can get access to ALL the "proverb of the day scripts" (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

Tiny Proverbs: Today's tiny proverb is: Labore vinces (English: With labor, you will triumph ... but if you aren't willing to work hard: watch out!).

3-Word Mottoes Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Fortiter, fideliter, feliciter (English: Bravely, faithfully, and happily ... although the English doesn't sound half as good as the Latin).

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Sumere vult pisces cattus sed flumen abhorret (English: The cat wants to take the fish, but he shudders at the river).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Doctrina sua noscitur vir (English: A man is known by his learning).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Apertae Musarum ianuae (English: The doors of the Muses are open; from Adagia 2.7.41 - in other words, any may try to excel in the arts of the Muses).

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Γλῶσσα βλάσφημος διανοίας κακῆς ἔλεγχος (English: A hurtful tongue is the sign of a wicked mind).

For today's image, here is an illustration for the sad story of the crow and the pigeon, Cornix et Columba:

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Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Round-Up: February 16

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email. Plus, you can find some Latin "pipilationes" at my Proverbia Latina feed.

HODIE: ante diem quartum decimum Kalendas Martias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too, along with an easy-to-read prose presentation of the story:

• Vulpis et Canis, a story about the fox and the dog and "doing unto others."
• Aesopus et Scriptor, a funny story about Aesop's very good practical advice to a very bad writer.
• Cochlea, a story about some snails, and the poor dog who mistook them for eggs!
• Hinnuleus et Cervus, the story of heart-to-heart between the stag and his son.
• Asinus et Herus Ingratus, the sad story of a donkey and his heartless master.

I've picked out my favorite one, Aesopus et Scriptor, to share with you here in the blog - there's not really a moral lesson here, but it sure is funny! This is the prose version; here's Phaedrus's poem. :-)

Quīdam scrīpta mala Aesōpō recitārat, in quīs multum sē iactāverat, ineptē. Cupiēns ergō scīre quidnam senex sentīret, inquit: "Numquid tibi superbior vīsus sum?" Nōbīs ingenī fīdūcia haud vāna est." Ille, pessimō volūmine cōnfectus, inquit: "Ego vehementer probō quod tē laudās; namque hōc numquam tibi contiget ab aliō."

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: You can get access to ALL the "proverb of the day scripts" (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Perduret probitas (English: May honesty endure - although the Latin has the allure of alliteration).

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Iuniores ad labores (English: Let the young ones get to work - and here the Latin rhymes!)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Nummis potior amicus in periculis (English: A friend is preferable to cash in times of trouble). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

Maxims of Publilius Syrus: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Iratus, cum ad se rediit, sibi tum irascitur (English: When an angry person comes to his senses, he gets angry at himself).

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Asini caput ne laves nitro (English: Don't wash the donkey's head with soap - simply because it's a waste of soap; from Adagia 3.3.39).

For an image today, here is an illustration for the story of Aesop and the writer, Aesopus et Scriptor - it's Lawrence Alma-Tadema's painting of a Roman writer:

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Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Myths and Legends: Medusa

The Head of Medusa. To find out more about Medusa, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

The famous image by Caravaggio shows the severed head of Medusa, complete with dripping blood. Medusa seems rather surprised by what has happened in fact - more terrified than terrifying. You can read the details about just how Perseus managed to behead this monster in Wikipedia.

You can also find more myths and legends for the week of February 12-18 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.

Round-Up: February 15

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email.

HODIE: ante diem quintum decimum Kalendas Martias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too, along with an easy-to-read prose presentation of the story:

• Lacerta et Testudo, Desbillons' delightful little poem about the contented turtle.
• Luscinia et Accipiter, the sad story of the nightingale who was caught by a hawk.
• Olea et Ficus, the story of the olive tree burdened by snow in the winter.
• Lupus et Asinus, the story of a wolf who pretended - unsuccessfully - to be a doctor to the donkey.
• Asinus Aegrotans et Lupi, a quite different little story about a sick donkey and the wolves who came to call on the patient.

I've picked out my favorite one, the story of the contented turtle, Lacerta et Testudo, to share with you here in the blog:

Lacerta testūdinī āiēbat mē miseret tuī, quae, quōcumque vādere libeat, ipsa cōgāris domum tuam tēcum ferre. Illa inquit: Quod ūtile, onus grave nōn est.

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: You can get access to ALL the "proverb of the day scripts" (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

3-Word Mottoes: Today's 3-word motto is Certum pete finem (English: Seek the goal that is sure).

3-Word Proverbs: Today's 3-word proverb is Aliena noli curare (English: Do not busy yourself in other people's affairs).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Dulcia praefatur, qui fallere praemeditatur (English: The person who speaks sweetly is planning to deceive you).

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is In qua mensura mensi fueritis, metietur vobis (Matt. 7:2). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

Elizabethan Proverb Commentary: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Taverner: Nemini fidas, nisi cum quo prius modium salus absumpseris: Trust no man, onles thou hast first eaten a bushel of salt with him. Without fayle it is harde at this day to mete with one, whom thou may trust in all thinges.

Today's Poem: Today's poem is one of the rhyming couplets collected by Wegeler, with a word list at NoDictionaries.com:

Dives eram dudum, fecerunt me tria nudum:
Alea, vina, Venus; tribus his sum factus egenus.

English: "Long ago, I was rich; three things have stripped me bare: dice, wine, and Venus: thanks to these three things I have become a beggar." (Notice the lovely rhymes: dudum-nudum and Venus-egenus.)

For an image today, here is an illustration for the story of the wolf who wanted to be a doctor, Lupus et Asinus:

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Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Round-Up: February 14

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email.

HODIE: ante diem sextum decimum Kalendas Martias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too, along with an easy-to-read prose presentation of the story:

• Muscae, the story of the flies who indulged in honey.
• Asinus et Porcelli Hordeum, the story of the donkey who was suspicious of the sacrificial barley.
• Vultur et Aviculae, the story of the vulture's deadly birthday party.
• Ovis et Pastor, how the shepherd rebuked the sheep for her complaints.
• Cornix Superbiens, the story of the crow who was dressed up in borrowed feathers.

I've picked out my favorite one, the story of the flies in honey, Muscae, to share with you here in the blog:

Ad mel profūsum in cellā quādam advolantēs muscae, illīus dulcissimō succō iūcundissimē pascēbantur. Sed iam saturae, cum āvolāre vellent, pedibus nītentibus, etiam ālīs in tenāce liquōre haerentibus, moritūrae, "Ō miserae (inquiunt), quantillus nōbīs cibus interitum attulit."

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: You can get access to ALL the "proverb of the day scripts" (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

Tiny Proverbs: Today's tiny proverb is: Momo mordacior (English: More sharp-tongued than Momus - which is very sharp-tongued indeed, as Momus was the critic of the gods!).

3-Word Mottoes Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Forti nihil difficile (English: For the brave man, nothing is difficult - so just be brave, and everything will be easier).

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Cattus saepe satur cum capto mure iocatur (English: A cat with a full stomach often plays with the mouse it has caught).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Oderint dum metuant (English: Let them hate me, so long as they fear me - those famous words recorded in Suetonius's Life of Caligula).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Venereum iusiurandum non punitur (English: The vows of Venus are not enforced - something to keep in mind on Valentine's Day, ha ha; from Adagia 2.4.90).

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Λύπης πάσης γίνετ' ἰατρὸς χρόνος (English: Time is the doctor for every grief).

For today's image, here is an illustration for the story of the vulture's birthday party, Vultur et Aviculae:

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Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Myths and Legends: Polyxena

The Sacrifice of Polyxena. To find out more about the death of the Trojan princess Polyxena, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Polyxena was the youngest daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy. Achilles had felt a strong sympathy towards this Trojan princess, and he told her of his only vulnerability: his heel. With that knowledge, Prince Paris, Polyxena's brother, was able to ambush Achilles and kill him. Euripides tells us that later, after the Trojans' defeat, when the Greeks were preparing to leave Troy and return home, the winds died down and the ships could not sail. The ghost of Achilles appeared to the Greeks and said that a human sacrifice was required: Polyxena had to be sacrificed at Achilles' grave. Achilles' son, Neoptolemus, conducted the sacrifice and slit Polyxena's throat - the dramatic moment that you can see depicted in this Greek vase painting.

You can also find more myths and legends for the week of February 12-18 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.

Myths & Legends: February 12-18

Feb. 5-11 - Feb. 12-18 - Feb. 19-25

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For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Reference Page.

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Oedipus and the Sphinx. To find out more about the Oedipus and the riddles of the Sphinx, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

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The Sacrifice of Polyxena. To find out more about the death of the Trojan princess Polyxena, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

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Phaon and Aphrodite. To find out more about how Aphrodite made Phaon young and beautiful, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

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The Head of Medusa. To find out more about Medusa, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

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King Midas. To find out more about Midas and his "golden touch," see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

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Hylas and the Nymphs. To find out more about Hylas, the lover of Heracles, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

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Circe. To find out more about Circe, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

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