Friday, December 31, 2010

Myths and Legends: Aeneas Meets Dido

Aeneas Meets Dido. To find out more about Aeneas and Queen Dido, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

This painting by Pierre-Narcisse Guerin shows lovely Queen Dido, accompanied by her sister, meeting the warrior Aeneas and his son, Ascanius - or at least the boy whom they think is Ascanius (he is, in fact, Venus' son Cupid, disguised, who is going to make poor Dido fall in love with Aeneas).

You can find more myths and legends for the week of December 25-31 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.


Myths & Legends: December 25-31

Dec. 18-24 - Dec. 25-31 - Jan. 1-7

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

Apollo and Marsyas. To find out more about the contest between Apollo and Marsyas, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.


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


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


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


The Birth of Adonis. To find out more about Aphrodite's lover Adonis, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.


The Sabine Women Make Peace. To find out more about the early Romans and the Sabine women, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.


Aeneas Meets Dido. To find out more about Aeneas and Queen Dido, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.


Thursday, December 30, 2010

Myths and Legends: Sabine Women Make Peace

The Sabine Women Make Peace. To find out more about the early Romans and the Sabine women, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

The painting is by Jacques-Louis David (1748–1825; Wikipedia has a great account of the dramatic moment in David's life when he conceived this painting) and depicts the dramatic moment when the Sabine women make peace between their Roman husbands and their Sabine fathers and brothers. The story of the "Rape of the Sabine Women" is the most famous episode in these events; that story tells how Romulus and his mostly male comrades had founded the city of Rome, but the men needed wives. Romulus therefore staged a festival and invited his Sabine neighbors to attend, men and women alike. During the festival, Romulus gave the signal and the Roman men grabbed the Sabine women and ran off with them; the Sabine women where then forced to marry their Roman abductors.

Later on, the Sabine king Titus Tatius led a war against the Romans, but the women intervened, which is the scene you see depicted in this painting - the women brought the war to a halt, and Titus Tatius and Romulus then ruled over Rome jointly, with the Sabines becoming part of the Roman community. Here is a detailed view of the central woman in the painting as she reaches out her arms in order to secure the peace:

You can find more myths and legends for the week of December 25-31 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.

Round-Up: December 30

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. This will be my last Bestiaria post for 2010, but I will see you back here on Saturday when it will be the year 2011... Faustum annum novum vobis omnibus exopto!

HODIE: ante diem tertium Kalendas Ianuarias (and yes, you can have your own Roman Google Calendar).

HOLIDAY SONGS: The Latin holiday songs for today are: Frigus vir nivis, a Latin version of "Frosty the Snowman," along with In Dulci Iubilo.

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is MOVEO - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay, and it is one of my own personal favorites: Cum Minerva et manum move, "Move your arms along with Athena," an allusion to the Aesop's fable about the drowning man who calls on Athena to save him.

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Carbonarius et Fullo, the paradoxical story of the collier covered in coal and the fuller who cleans wool.

BESTIARIA PROVERBS: There are some new animal proverbs today for FORMICA, the ant, and MULUS, the mule.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Equus Superbus et Asinus, a story of "how the mighty are fallen." (You can also a free PDF copy of the Mille Fabulae et Una book - and there's an English fable of the day, too.)

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Corvus et Vulpes Mortem Simulans, about the fox who tried to fool the crow by playing dead, and Struthiocamelus et Alauda, which tells how how the lark learned not to envy the ostrich.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Schottus' Adagia, sive Proverbia Graecorum (an incredibly useful book!) and Offelen's Symbola et Emblemata, prepared for the Czar of Russia himself, Peter the Great, and printed in 1705 (so, yes, it is a polyglot emblem book not just in Latin and various western European languages, but in Russian, too).

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: Widgets available at SchoolhouseWidgets.com.

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Annuit coeptis (English: He has favored our beginnings - a good motto as we approach the new year).

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Conscientia mille testes (English: Conscience is a thousand witnesses)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Asinus asino et sus sui pulcher (English: One donkey is beautiful to another, one pig is beautiful to another). 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: Perpetuo vincit, qui utitur clementia (English: The man who rules on mercy wins every time).

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Domi leones, sed foris vulpeculae (English: At home they are lions, but foxes when away - based on the proverbial opposition between the forceful lion and the wily fox; from Adagia Domi leones, sed foris vulpeculae. At home they are lions, but foxes when away. (Adagia 4.5.80).

For an image today, here is something to accompany Annuit coeptis, as shown on the American dollar bill:

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Myths and Legends: Arachne

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

This painting of the Arachne legend is by Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640). Arachne is the mortal woman who boasted that her skill was greater than that of the goddess of wisdom and crafts, Athena (Roman Minerva). They staged a contest and Arachne chose as the subject for her tapestry the amorous affairs and misdeeds of the gods; if you look closely at Rubens' painting, you can see Europa and the bull on the right side of the painting:

Of course, there is no way the goddess would allow Arachne to win! The two of them wove their tapestries, and Athena then tore Arachne's tapestry to shreds and then beat her with the wooden shuttle. Arachne then prepared to hang herself in despair, whereupon Athena turned her into a spider, dangling not from a noose but from her own web. You can read the full story in Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book 6.

You can also find more myths and legends for the week of December 25-31 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.

Round-Up: December 28

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. I'm Twittering again now at Aesopus and AesopusEnglish.

HODIE: ante diem quintum Kalendas Ianuarias (and yes, you can have your own Roman Google Calendar).

HOLIDAY SONGS: The Latin holiday songs for today are: Somnio Candidum Diem, a Latin version of "White Christmas," along withDormi Jesuand also Prope accedamus, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "Przystąpmy do szopy."

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is CIVITAS - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Omnis civitas vel domus divisa contra se, non stabit, "Every community or house divided against itself will not stand."

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Simia et Catuli Eius, the story of the animals' baby beauty contest.

BESTIARIA PROVERBS: There are some new animal proverbs today for HIRCUS, the goat, and PICA, the magpie.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Castor et Venator, the story of the beaver's desperate act of self-preservation. (You can also a free PDF copy of the Mille Fabulae et Una book - and there's an English fable of the day, too.)

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Polydore Vergil's Adagia and Abstemius's fables (both hecatomythia).

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: Widgets available at SchoolhouseWidgets.com.

3-Word Mottoes: Today's 3-word motto is Nemo sibi nascitur (English: No one is born for himself alone).

3-Word Proverbs: Today's 3-word proverb is Fama crescit eundo (English: Rumor grows as it goes along - especially as it goes viral on the Internet!).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Sero seram ponis stabulis post furta latronis (English: You're late putting the lock on the stable door after the robber's theft).

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is Alter alterius onera portate (Gal. 6:2). 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 Conybeare: Ad Calendas Graecas: A proverbe signifiend never, bicause the Greekes had no kalendes.

Today's Poem: Today's poem is from the rhyming verses collected by Wegeler, with a word list at NoDictionaries.com:
Omnia sunt mundi, quasi bulla caduca, rotundi:
In pratis ut flos, sic cadit omnis honos.
English: "All the things of this round world are like a falling bubble; like the flower in the meadows, thus falls away all public esteem." So, while the principle of "publish or perish" rules the academic world, the ultimate rule of "perish" trumps everything... which makes the ephemeral nature of blogging seem more honest, yes? :-)

For an image today, here is the beauty contest of the animal babies, 107. Simia et Catuli Eius. Animalia olim contendebant quis pulcherrimos haberet liberos. Aderant omnia; simia quoque catulos suos brachio gestat. Hac veniente, nullum animalium potuit a risu temperare. Continuo simia exclamat, “Immo nostis catulos meos esse aliis longe pulchriores.” (source - easy version):

Simia et Iuppiter - Osius

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Round-Up: December 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. I'm Twittering again now at Aesopus and AesopusEnglish.

HODIE: ante diem septimum Kalendas Ianuarias (and yes, you can have your own Roman Google Calendar).

HOLIDAY SONGS: The Latin holiday songs for today are: Rex Wenceslaus, a Latin version of "King Wenceslas," along with Veni Redemptor Gentium and also Ad stabulum, pastores, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "Do szopy, hej pasterze."

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is VERITAS - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Tempore patet occulta veritas, "Truth that is hidden reveals itself in time."

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Perdix et Galli, the story of the partridge living among the roosters.

BESTIARIA PROVERBS: There are some new animal proverbs today for PORCUS , the pig, and SERPENS , the snake.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Corvus Aquilam Imitans, the crow who thought he was an eagle. (You can also a free PDF copy of the Mille Fabulae et Una book - and there's an English fable of the day, too.)

AESOP SLIDESHOW: Today's Aesop slideshow is Aquila et Testudo, the story of the high-flying tortoise and the eagle. (For all the Aesop images, visit Flickr.)

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Hervieux's medieval Romulus (volume 2 of his 5-volume Fabulistes Latins) and Freytag's Arabum Proverbia.

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: Widgets available at SchoolhouseWidgets.com.

Tiny Proverbs: Today's tiny proverb is: Caveat lector (English: Let the reader beware).

3-Word Mottoes Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Patientia et perseverantia (English: By patience and persistence).

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Asinus stramen mavult quam aurum (English: The donkey prefers straw to gold).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Bonus homo de bono thesauro profert bona (English: A good man brings forth good things from his good storehouse).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Ilias malorum (English: An Iliad of troubles; from Adagia 1.3.26).

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Ὀῖκος φίλος οἶκος ἄριστος (English: The Greek equivalent of our "Home, sweet home" saying in English).

For an image today, here's an illustration for the story of the ambitious crow, 431. Corvus Aquilam Imitans. Aquila, celsa de rupe devolans, agnum e grege eripuit. Quod cum corvus videt, aemulatione movetur. Vehementi strepitu, in arietem irruit atque ungues in vellere ita implicat ut se iam motu alarum nequeat explicare. Hunc pastor videns, prehendit; pennis alarum succisis, pueris praebet ludibrio. Ingemens, corvus secum ait, “Hei mihi! Prius, aquilam me esse putavi; nunc vero, me corvum esse cognosco.” (source)

0216 Corvus Aquilam Imitans

Friday, December 24, 2010

Round-Up: December 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. I'm Twittering again now at Aesopus and AesopusEnglish.

HODIE: ante diem nonum Kalendas Ianuarias (and yes, you can have your own Roman Google Calendar).

HOLIDAY SONGS: The Latin holiday songs for today are: En, Nocte Venit Media, a Latin version of "It Came upon a Midnight Clear," along with Misellum, silens, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "Mizerna cicha."

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is AQUA - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Eunt anni more fluentis aquae, "The years go by like flowing water."

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Aquila et Leo, Amici, the story of the lion who was reluctant to befriend the eagle.

BESTIARIA PROVERBS: There are some new animal proverbs today for FALCO, the falcon, and MUSCA, the fly.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Piscator et Calamus, the story of the piping fisherman. (You can also a free PDF copy of the Mille Fabulae et Una book - and there's an English fable of the day, too.)

AESOP SLIDESHOW: Today's Aesop slideshows are Simia et Vulpis Cauda, the story of the monkey who wanted to borrow a part of the fox's tail, and Camelus et Iuppiter, the story of the camel who wanted horns. (For all the Aesop images, visit Flickr.)

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Glandorpius's Latihnsche Disticha and Oesterley's Gesta Romanorum, which happens to be my favorite collection of medieval folklore!

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: Widgets available at SchoolhouseWidgets.com.

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Ex sese (English: By my own efforts).

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Nihil diu occultum (English: Nothing remains long hidden)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Collecta dirige, electa age (English: ODDA, observe - orient - decide - act). 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: Quod est venturum, sapiens ut praesens cavet (English: The wise man guards against what is to come as if it were already here).

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Mortuo leoni et lepores insultant (English: Even rabbits insult the dead lion; from Adagia 4.7.82).

For an image today, here is the camel petitioning Jupiter, 143. Camelus et Iuppiter. Camelus, se despiciens, querebatur tauros ire geminis cornibus insignes, se inermem obiectum esse ceteris animalibus; orat Iovem cornua sibi donare. Iuppiter cameli stultitiam ridet; nec modo negat votum, verum et decurtat bestiae auriculas. Quisque sit contentus sua Fortuna; etenim multi, meliorem secuti, peiorem incurrere. (source)

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Myths and Legends: Narcissus

Narcissus. To find out more about the self-absorbed Narcissus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

There are probably hundreds (or more...?) paintings inspired by the legend of Narcissus, the man who was in love with his own reflection, and incapable of loving anyone or anything else. This particular painting dates to around the year 1500; notice that Narcissus is wearing contemporary clothes, rather than Greek or Roman garb. The artist is presumed to have been a follower of Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio, who was in turn a pupil of Leonardo da Vinci. Note also that in the painting's version of the story, rather than discovering his reflection in a pool, this Narcissus sees himself in a basin of water.

His face truly is lovely; here is a close-up of his face from the image viewer at the National Gallery of London, where the painting resides.

You can also find more myths and legends for the week of December 18-24 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.

Round-Up: December 22

The regular blog is below, but first - an announcement. It's a nice Christmas present from Blogger: mobile templates! If you had found it difficult/impossible to read this blog on a mobile device, take a look now. You should automatically see the mobile view displayed (and yes, you can also get the old web version by scrolling down to the bottom of the mobile screen). Here's what it looks like on my iPodTouch: I like it! For those of you who have your own Blogger blogs, here's how to set up your blog for mobile display. :-)


HODIE: ante diem undecimum Kalendas Ianuarias (and yes, you can have your own Roman Google Calendar).

HOLIDAY SONGS: The Latin holiday songs for today are: O Parve Vice Bethlehem, a Latin version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem," along with Magi, omnis orbis reges, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "Mędrcy świata, monarchowie."

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is PARO - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Sibi parat malum, qui alteri parat, "The person who prepares evil for another is preparing evil for himself."

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Corvus et Mercurius, the story of a hypocritical crow and his occasional piety.

BESTIARIA PROVERBS: There are some new animal proverbs today for HAEDUS, the kid, and LUSCINIA, the nightingale.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Tubicen Captus, the story of the trumpeter who became a prisoner of war. (You can also a free PDF copy of the Mille Fabulae et Una book - and there's an English fable of the day, too.)

AESOP SLIDESHOW: Today's Aesop slideshows are Vultur Convivium Faciens, the vulture's deadly birthday party, and Muli et Latrones, the two mules and the robbers. (For all the Aesop images, visit Flickr.)

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are both mythological works: Frazer's Golden Bough (all three editions) and De Gubernatis's Zoological Mythology.

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: Widgets available at SchoolhouseWidgets.com.

3-Word Mottoes: Today's 3-word motto is Quod potes, tenta (English: Try what you are able to do - a Latin "be all that you can be" motto!).

3-Word Proverbs: Today's 3-word proverb is Necessitas feriis caret (English: Necessity knows no holidays - so yes, alas, I still have to do the housecleaning during the delightful winter vacation).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Quisquis amat ranam, ranam putat esse Dianam (English: He who loves a frog thinks that frog is the goddess Diana - of course, that is a proverb which suffers from the lack of rhyme in English, ha ha).

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is Comede in laetitia panem tuum et bibe cum gaudio vinum tuum (Ecc. 9:7). 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: Tollere cristas: To set up the creaste. Applied to them that be proude or arrogant, and do stretche upp there browes with a disdaynefull countenance.

For an image today, I thought I would include one of the illustrations for the vulture's birthday party, 458. Vultur Convivium Faciens. Vultur, volens laute prandere et ventrem suum delicatis cibis infarcire, invitavit aviculas ad convivium, natalem suum, ut dicebat, celebraturus. Haec fama exiit inter eas et hoc aucupio incautas fefellit. Veniunt igitur undique, existimantes invenire mensas omnis generis deliciarum refertas, non de suo paraturas. Sed ubi, adventatis ac coactis omnibus, fores occlusae sunt et vultur rapere et mactare et occidere coepit, “O insanas nos et vecordes,” inquiunt, “quae vulturi, inimico nostro, fidimus, et apud eum putantes reperire escas, ipsae eius escae factae sumus.” (source):

vultur et aves

Monday, December 20, 2010

Myths and Legends: Zeus and Semele

Zeus and Semele. To find out more about Semele, the mother of Dionysus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

The painting depicts the dramatic moment in which the mortal woman Semele has recklessly asked her love Zeus to show himself to her in all his splendor. Zeus was bound to honor her wish, but no mortal can gaze on Zeus in his glory; Semele was instantly killed by the fire and lightning of his presence. Semele was already pregnant with their child, Dionysus, whom Zeus rescued from her body (you can see the blood dripping from her side) and then sewed into his own thigh. For this reason, Dionysus is sometimes called the "twice-born god," διμήτωρ or διμήτριος.

This amazing depiction of Zeus with his lover Semele is by the French Symbolist painter Gustave Moreau; the painting has its own Wikipedia article which provides some help in identifying the many allegorical and mythological figures incorporated in the painting. Below is a detail of Semele herself, for example, which allows you to see a weeping angel or Cupid just below Semele, to the left.

You can also find more myths and legends for the week of December 18-24 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.

Round-Up: December 20

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. I'm Twittering again now at Aesopus and AesopusEnglish.

HODIE: ante diem tertium decimum Kalendas Ianuarias, as the Festival of Saturnalia continues (and yes, you can have your own Roman Google Calendar).

HOLIDAY SONGS: The Latin holiday songs for today are: Lapsi Caelo Super Gentes, a Latin version of "Angels We Have Heard on High," along with Jesu, dulcis memoria and also Laetissimam famam, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "Wesołą nowinę."

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is SIGNUM - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Signum scientis est posse docere, "A sign of those who know is that they can teach" (a nice motto for us teachers!)

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Asinus et Viatores Duo, an extremely simple story but none the less funny for it!

BESTIARIA PROVERBS: There are some new animal proverbs today for FELES, the cat, and URSUS, the bear.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Corvus Asinum Feriens, the story of a wicked crow observed by a wolf. (You can also a free PDF copy of the Mille Fabulae et Una book - and there's an English fable of the day, too.)

AESOP SLIDESHOW: Today's Aesop slideshows are Delphinus et Simius, the famous story of the monkey who pretends to be a man, and Camelus et Simia, a story in which it is not the monkey but the camel who behaves foolishly. (For all the Aesop images, visit Flickr.)

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Bovillus's Proverbia Vulgares and Boothby's two volumes of Aesopic verse.

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: Widgets available at SchoolhouseWidgets.com.

Tiny Proverbs: Today's tiny proverb is: Hylam vocat (English: You're shouting for Hylas - but as we know from the myth of Hercules and Hylas, he cannot ever answer your call since the nymphs have taken him!).

3-Word Mottoes Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Citius, altius, fortius (English: Faster, higher, and stronger - famous as the motto of the Olympics).

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Pullus de nido avolat (English: The chick flies away from the nest).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Nolite iudicare secundum faciem (English: Don't judge based on appearances).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Sero sapiunt Phryges (English: The Phrygians get wise too late - the Phrygians here are the Trojans, who let the wooden horse into their city and didn't realize their mistake until it was too late; from Adagia 1.1.28).

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Λύκος ποιμήν (English: The wolf as shepherd... which is to say, not a very good shepherd at all).

For an image today, in honor of the proverb Hylam vocat, here's the famous painting of Hylas and the Nymphs by John William Waterhouse:

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Myths and Legends: The Seven Against Thebes

The Seven Against Thebes. To find out more about the war between the sons of Oedipus, Polynices and Eteocles, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

The story of the "Seven Against Thebes" is about the war waged between the two sons of Oedipus: Eteocles, who led the Theban army, and his brother Polynices, who led an Argive army against Thebes. The "seven" were the captains in Polynices' army: Tydeus, Capaneus, Eteoclus, Hippomedon, Parthenopeus, Amphiaraus and Polynices himself. In the image below, you can see the seven of them swearing their oath: they have slaughtered a bull and have each dipped their hands into the blood of the bull; with that blood they swear that they will either capture the city of Thebes or die in the attempt. In the end, Eteocles and his army drive the captains away from the gates of Thebes, although Eteocles and Polynices both fall on the field of battle. This then leads to the tragic story of Antigone, who resolves to give her brother Polynices a symbolic burial, even though her uncle Creon has ordered that the body of Polynices should be left in the open as carrion.

For more about the story of the Seven, you can read this account by Alfred J. Church, based on the tragic drama by Aeschylus. You can also read E. D. A. Morshead's English translation of Aeschylus online. The epic poem by the Roman poet Statius, The Thebaid, provides the most detailed ancient account of the Seven.

You can also find more myths and legends for the week of December 18-24 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.

Myths & Legends: December 18-24

Dec. 11-17 - Dec. 18-24 - Dec. 25-31

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

The Seven Against Thebes. To find out more about the war between the sons of Oedipus, Polynices and Eteocles, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.


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


Zeus and Semele. To find out more about Semele, the mother of Dionysus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.


Pelops and Hippodamia. To find out more about Pelops and his courtship of Hippodamia, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.


Narcissus. To find out more about the self-absorbed Narcissus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.


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


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


Round-Up: December 18

I'm back from my travels at last, and here is a round-up of today's blog posts; 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. I'm Twittering again now at Aesopus and AesopusEnglish.

HODIE: ante diem quintum decimum Kalendas Ianuarias, during the festival of Saturnalia! (And yes, you can have your own Roman Google Calendar).

HOLIDAY SONGS: The Latin holiday songs for today are: Heu! quid jaces stabulo, a 15th-century hymn, and also Heri nocte prima, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "A wczoraj z wieczora."

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is NATURA - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Natura non nisi parendo vincitur, "Nature cannot be defeated except by obeying her."

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Asinus et Grammaticus, the funny story of the man who says he can teach a donkey to read and write.

BESTIARIA PROVERBS: There are some new animal proverbs today for GALLUS, the rooster, and CORVUS, the crow.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Nux Secundum Viam Sata, the story of the much-abused nut tree. (You can also a free PDF copy of the Mille Fabulae et Una book - and there's an English fable of the day, too.)

AESOP SLIDESHOW: Today's Aesop slideshows are Fur et Mater Eius, the story of the thief who blamed his mother, and Ranae Duae et Puteus, the story of the two frogs, one cautious and one reckless. (For all the Aesop images, visit Flickr.)

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Whitney's Choice of Emblemes and Faerni Fabulae Centum cum Imaginibus.

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: Widgets available at SchoolhouseWidgets.com.

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Ascendo (English: I rise).

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Sale nihil utilius (English: Nothing is more useful than salt - which is true for food, of course, and also true of the "salt of wit" as well.)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Noli irritare leones (English: Do not provoke the lions!). 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: Necessitati quodlibet telum utile est (English: Necessity makes use of any weapon at hand).

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is E cantu dignoscitur avis (English: You know the bird by its song; from Adagia 4.2.21).

For an image today, here is an illustration to go with that fable about the teacher and the donkey, 239. Asinus et Grammaticus: Grammaticus quidam gloriabatur adeo in arte sua se excellentem esse ut, si digna daretur merces, non modo pueros, verum etiam asinum docere profiteretur. Princeps, audiens hominis temeritatem, interrogabat eum an si quinquaginta ei daret aureos, intra decennium docere asinum confideret. Respondit vir impudens non recusare se ab eo interimi si hoc spatio temporis asinus ille legere et scribere nesciret. Amici, hoc audientes, admirabantur increpabantque hominem, qui non modo rem arduam atque difficilem, verum etiam impossibilem facere promisisset, timebantque ne exacto hoc tempore a principe occideretur. Quibus ille respondebat, “Antequam hoc tempus elabatur aut asinus morietur, aut princeps, aut ego.” (source - easy version):

Grammaticus et Asinus

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Myths and Legends: Ajax and Cassandra

Ajax and Cassandra. To find out more about the Trojan princess Cassandra, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

In the image below, you see one of the most dramatic scenes from the downfall of Troy. The Greek have entered the city, concealed as they were in the wooden horse, and have caught the Trojans entirely by surprise. The Trojan princess Cassandra, who had foretold the disaster (although no one believed her), has fled to the temple of Athena for protection. In the image you can see her clinging to the Palladium, the sacred image of Athena, while the Greek warrior, Ajax the Lesser, pulls her forcibly away. Here is a detailed view of Cassandra as she clings to the statue of Athena:

You can read more about the fall of Troy in Vergil's Aeneid, Book 2 - Aeneas is telling the story in first person to Queen Dido, which makes the events even more dramatic! For more about Cassandra's life and her prophetic powers, see this Wikipedia article. You can also find more myths and legends for the week of December 11-17 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Myths and Legends: Scylla

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

In this image of Scylla by John Flaxman, you can see that she has grabbed up some of the companions of Odysseus in her hands, which gives you a sense of scale. This Scylla is a gigantic monster! Flaxman has chosen to depict Scylla as still recognizably human from the top up; in other accounts, she is supposed to have six heads - not just one. Down below, you can see that she has tentacles instead of legs, with barking dogs' heads around her waist. You can read more about Scylla's appearance in this Wikipedia article.

Scylla posed a threat to sailors on one side of a narrow sea strait (perhaps the Strait of Messina between Italy and Sicily?), while the whirlpool monster, Charybdis, threatened from the opposite side. Sailing "between Scylla and Charybdis" was one of the perils that Odysseus faced on his journey home (see The Odyssey, Book 12). Compare also the Latin saying, Evitata Charybdi in Scyllam incidi, "Having avoided Charybdis, I've fallen into Scylla" (Erasmus, Adagia 1.5.4) - something like the English saying, "out of the frying pan, into the fire."

You can also find more myths and legends for the week of December 11-17 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Myths and Legends: Menelaus and Hector

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

In this vase painting, you can see the Greek warrior Menelaus fighting the Trojan warrior Hector over the body of Euphorbus, a fallen Trojan warrior; you can see his body shown there if you look closely. Euphorbus was one of the great heroes of Troy who was killed by Menelaus in battle. One of Euphorbus' claims to fame in later times was that the philosopher Pythagoras, who believed in reincarnation, claimed that he had been Euphorbus in a previous lifetime! Pythagoras reportedly had this realization when he saw the shield of Euphorbus on display in a sanctuary of Hera outside Argos, where Menelaus himself had supposedly dedicated Euphorbus' armor all those years ago.

Learn more about Euphorbus - more about Pythagoras - and you can also learn about the Pythagorean Theorem (yes, he's that Pythagoras!).

You can also find more myths and legends for the week of December 11-17 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Special Round-Up: December 11 + Hiatus

NOTE: I'm going to be out of town for a few days, so this will be the last round-up for a week or so, but I'll be back online and updating the blogs next Friday, December 17. For previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives.

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is CREDO - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Equo ne credite, Teucri, "Don't trust the horse, O Trojans!"

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Lupus et Canis Saginatus, a wonderful fable of freedom!

BESTIARIA PROVERBS: There are some new animal proverbs today for PULEX, the flea, and LYNX, the lynx.

AESOP SLIDESHOW: Today's Aesop slideshows are Asinus Leonis Pelle Indutus, the famous story of the donkey in the lion's skin, and Rana et Vulpes, the story of the frog who wanted to be a physician. (For all the Aesop images, visit Flickr.)

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Book is Riley's Dictionary of Latin Quotations and some notes on how to annotate GoogleBook PDF files on the iPad using GoodReader.

HOLIDAY SONGS: Check the Holiday Song Calendar to see new songs for each day!

Here are the daily fable and proverbs - they won't come through in the email, but just check the blog post to see what's new for the day... automatically updated while I am gone, thanks to the magic of javascript!











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Myths and Legends: Diomedes and Glaucus

Diomedes and Glaucus. To find out more about the exchange of Diomedes and Glaucus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Notes: The exchange between Diomedes and Glaucus, an episode from Book 6 of Homer's Iliad which you can read about here in Wikipedia (and also in the article about Glaucus). The exchange is famously unfair: the two warriors swapped armor, but Diomedes gave Glaucus armor made of bronze, while Glaucus gave Diomedes armor made of gold. Blame it on Zeus! That's what Homer does anyway, when he tells us that it was Zeus who made Glaucus lose his wits and agree to such an unequal exchange. The figure on the right in the funny-looking clothes is Glaucus; he was a Lycian, an ally of the Trojans. Diomedes is on the left. You can read Homer's Iliad online in English here at the Internet Classics Archive.

You can also find more myths and legends for the week of December 11-17 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.


Myths & Legends: December 11-17

Dec. 4-10 - Dec. 11-17 - Dec. 18-24

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

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


Menelaus Fights Hector. To find out more about Hector, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.


Narcissus. To find out more about the self-absorbed Narcissus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.


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


Atalanta and Hippomenes. To find out more about this famous footrace, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.


Ajax and Cassandra. To find out more about the Trojan princess Cassandra, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.


Electra and Orestes. To find out more about Orestes and his sister Electra, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.


Friday, December 10, 2010

Myths and Legends: Dionysus and Ariadne

Dionysus and Ariadne. To find out more about Ariadne, the bride of Dionysus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

After Theseus abandoned Ariadne, she became the bride of Dionysus (Bacchus) whom you can see here accompanied by his wild entourage.

You can also find more myths and legends for the week of December 4-10 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Myths and Legends: Danaids

Danaids. To find out more about the crimes and the punishment of the daughters of Danaus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

The Danaids were the fifty daughters of King Danaus. They were betrothed to the fifty sons of the king's brother, but there was no love lost between the two brothers. On orders from King Danaus, all but one of the fifty daughters murdered their new husbands on their wedding night (Hypermnestra was the one exception). As a punishment, the Danaids were condemned for all eternity to try to fill a tub with water.

You can also find more myths and legends for the week of December 4-10 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.

Round-Up: December 9

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives.

I'm starting something new today: Google Books! I've been an avid user of Google Books for several years, and the new Google eBookstore, which was just launched this week, has brought the treasure-trove of Google Books to the attention of many more people now. Well, I love Google Books and I wanted to share with people the amazing public domain books, all free, that I have been enjoying at Google Books. So, as you'll see in the post below, I'll be highlighting a couple of Google Books in each round-up post. I've also got some tips here on configuring your custom Google Bookshelves and searching your Bookshelves.

HODIE: ante diem quintum Idus Decembres (and yes, you can have your own Roman Google Calendar).

HOLIDAY SONGS: The Latin holiday songs for today are: Regis Olim Urbe David, a special carol for children, along with In natali Domini and Cari pastores, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "Pasterze mili."

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is QUANTUS - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Quanti est sapere! "How valuable it is to be wise!"

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Struthiocamelus et Gallina, the sad story of the ostrich who wanted to fly and a helpful chicken.

BESTIARIA PROVERBS: There are some new animal proverbs today for RANA, the frog, and BELUA , the beast.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Lupus et Puer Mendax, the famous story of the boy who cried wolf. (You can also a free PDF copy of the Mille Fabulae et Una book - and there's an English fable of the day, too.)

AESOP SLIDESHOW: Today's Aesop slideshows are Simius Rex et Vulpes, the story of how the fox tricked the monkey king, and Ciconia et Vulpecula, then "turn about is fair play" fable of the fox and the stork. (For all the Aesop images, visit Flickr.)

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Hierozoicon (by Samuel Bochart) and Florilegium Proverbiorum Universae Latinitatis (by Eduardus Margalits).

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: Widgets available at SchoolhouseWidgets.com.

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Amicus amico (English: A friend to a friend).

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Optima sapientia probitas (English: Honesty is the best wisdom)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Numquam est fidelis cum potente societas (English: An alliance with someone powerful is never reliable). 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: Occasio receptus difficiles habet (English: Opportunity is hard to get back a second time).

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Vel muscas metuit praetervolitantes (English: He's scared even of flies that flutter by; from Adagia 1.5.66).

For an image today, here is that poor flying ostrich, 405. Struthiocamelus et Gallina. Struthiocamelus alas quidem habet quibus in cursu ad pernicitatem adiuvatur, sed in sublime volando non extollitur. Haec sive bestia seu avis, cum forte in ardua rupe constitisset, incitabat sese ad volatum et imitari volebat reliquas volucres. Cui gallina, quae hoc conantem viderat, “Cave,” inquit, “ne volandi cupiditate etiam ingrediendi facultatem amittas.” Gallina derisa, struthiocamelus deiecit se passis alis de rupe atque ad terram pondere suo afflicta crura fregit. Fabula docet contra naturam niti oportere neminem. (source - easy version)

Struthiocamelus Volans

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Myths and Legends: Dido and Aeneas Feasting

Dido and Aeneas Feasting. To find out more about Aeneas and Queen Dido, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

This shows Dido and Aeneas happily feasting, although things will not end well for poor Dido. You can see more Dido images here.

You can also find more myths and legends for the week of December 4-10 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.