Sundial: SOL LUCET OMNIBUS

This is a sundial in the Valongo Observatory at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The sundial is located on the wall of the Library.

The motto on the sundial is SOL LUCET OMNIBUS, "The sun shines for everyone / on everything." The words can be found in the Satyricon of Petronius:

Non commune est, quod natura optimum fecit? Sol omnibus lucet. Luna innumerabilibus comitata sideribus etiam feras ducit ad pabulum. Quid aquis dici formosius potest? In publico tamen manant. 

Is Nature's best work not common to all? The sun shines for everyone. The moon accompanied by countless stars leads even wild beasts to their food. What can be said to be more beautiful than the water? Yet it flows for our common use.

The photo is by Gustavo F. Porto de Mello at Wikimedia Commons:

Sundial: CARPE DIEM

The image below shows a sundial found in the fortified town of Carcassonne in southern France. The sundial was made in 1961 (ANNO DMI MCMLXI, with a a mark to indicate the abbreviation of DOMINI) by René R. J. Rohr (RRJ ROHR FECIT).

The motto, CARPE DIEM, is one of the best known Latin phrases today, and it is often found on sundials. The words come from a poem by Horace: carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero; seize the day, trusting as little as possible in what will come next. You can read the entire poem in Latin and English at this Wikipedia article.

There's a bit of irony in the fact that earlier in the poem Horace rejects Babylonian astronomical science, the very science of celestial motion that provided the foundation for Greek and Roman astronomical science, including the Roman use of sundials.

The photo is by fdecomite at Wikimedia Commons:

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: February 6

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - 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 (Roman Calendar): ante diem octavum Idus Februarias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Leda and the Swan; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY MOTTOES: Today's tiny motto is: Sperandum (English: We must have hope).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Nihil maius infinito (English: There is nothing greater than the infinite)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Arcum nimia frangit intensio (English: Too much tension breaks the bow). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

PUBLILIUS SYRUS: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Bona nemini hora est, ut non alicui sit mala (English: Nobody has a good time which is not bad for somebody).

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Non curat numerum lupus (English: The wolf doesn't care about the number of flock - in other words, you can count your sheep all you want, but that will not put a stop to the wolf's predations; from Adagia 2.4.99).

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Consilium Non Post Facta, Sed Ante. Click here for a full-sized view; the poem has a vocabulary list and an English translation, too.

And here is today's proverbial lolcat:

TODAY'S FABLES AND SONGS:

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Ollae Duae, the story of a mismatch friendship between two pots (this fable has a vocabulary list).

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Hercules et Rusticus, a wonderful story of how god helps them that help themselves.

 

GreekLOLz - and Latin and English, too. Below is one of my GreekLOLz; for the Latin and English versions of the graphic, see the blog post: Ἁ δὲ χεὶρ την χεῖρα νίζει. Manus manum lavat. One hand washes the other.

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: February 4

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. In addition to a free PDF copy of Brevissima: 1001 Tiny Latin Poems, you can also get a free PDF copy of Mille Fabulae et Una: 1001 Aesop's Fables in Latin. If you prefer the heft of a book in your hand, you can get the books in printed form from Lulu.com.

HODIE (Roman Calendar): pridie Nonas Februarias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows The Choice of Heracles; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word motto is Grata sume manu (English: Take things with a grateful hand).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Cedant arma legibus (English: Let weapons yield to the laws ... an apt saying for the current national debate!).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Omnia Mors tollit, quam nulla potentia mollit (English: Death, which no power can mollify, takes away everything).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is Dignus est operarius mercede sua (Luke 10:7). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

ELIZABETHAN PROVERBS: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Taverner: Ne quaere mollia, ne tibi contingant dura: Seke not softe thinges lest hard thinges happen unto the. It is commonly sene, that they which unmeasurablie seke pleasures, do fall, ere they be ware, into bitter and harde grevaunces.

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is De Bono et Malo. Click here for a full-sized view; the poem has a vocabulary list and an English translation, too.

And here is today's proverbial lolcat:

TODAY'S FABLES AND SONGS:

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Platanus et Viatores, the story of a tree who doesn't get any respect (this fable has a vocabulary list).

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Venator Meticulosus, the story of a hunter who is not ready to face the lion after all.

GreekLOLz - and Latin and English, too. Below is one of my GreekLOLz; for the Latin and English versions of the graphic, see the blog post: Ἀγεωμέτρητος μηδεὶς εἰσίτω. Geometriae ignarus nullus ingrediatur. Let no one enter who is ignorant of geometry.

February 3: Proverbial LOLCat

Here is today's Proverbial LOLCat; for some observations, see the Google+ post.

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: February 2

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. If you have not downloaded a free PDF copy of Brevissima: 1001 Tiny Latin Poems, it's ready and waiting! Meanwhile, I'm slowly but surely adding poster images and English translations over at the Brevissima blog.

HODIE (Roman Calendar): ante diem quartum Nonas Februarias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Philemon and Baucis; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY PROVERBS: Today's tiny proverb is: Midae divitiae (English: The wealth of Midas ... a wealth with unintended consequences, of course!).

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Corde et manu (English: With heart and hand).

ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is Ad praesens ova cras pullis sunt meliora (English: Eggs today are better than chicks tomorrow).

POLYDORUS: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Cui multum datum est, multum quaeretur ab eo (English: Much is expected from him to whom much is given).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Sui cuique mores fingunt Fortunam (English: Each man's habits make his own Fortune; from Adagia 2.4.30).

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Σίδηρον πλεῖν διδάσκεις (English: You are trying to teach iron to swim... a fool's errand, of course!).

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Poenam Tandem Ferunt. Click here for a full-sized view; the poem has a vocabulary list and an English translation, too.

And here is today's proverbial lolcat:

TODAY'S FABLES AND SONGS:

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Talpa et Olitor, a story about a gardener with no love for the mole (this fable has a vocabulary list).

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Pater et Filii Litigantes, a story about solidarity.

Finally, I'm experimenting with something new - I discovered that I can use polytonic Greek at the Cheezburger.com meme builder - so here is a Greek saying; Latin and English versions of the same image at the blog: Ἀεὶ κολοιὸς παρὰ κολοιὸν ἱζάνει. Monedulae semper monedula assidet. One jackdaw always sits next to another.