HUM/REL 493 - Continuation of Intermediate Latin
Course Notes - Week 3
The photo on page 39 is of the "Cancelleria Relief" in the Vatican Museum. It depicts scenes from the life of the Emperor Domitian. The central figure represented Domition, but his head was replaced later with the head of the Emperor Nerva. The photo on page 118 shows another part of the relief.
The drawing of the coin on page 42 shows a sestertius of Domitian, ca, AD 84. The lettering stand for :
Obverse :
IMPerator CAESar DIVI VESPasiani Filius DOMITianus AVGustus GERManicus COnSul X
Imperator Caesar, son of the divine Vespasian, Domitianus Augusts Germanicus, consul for the 10th time.
Reverse :
Pontifex Maximus TRIBunicia Potestate III IMPerator VII Pater Patriae Senatus Consulto
Chief Priest, (holder of) tribunician power for the 3rd time, imperator for the 7th time, father of his/the country. By decree of the senate.
The photo on page 44 is of a procession of senators on the "Ara pacis" (Altar of Peace). The Ara Pacis was set up by the senate in 13 BC, to celebrate the blessings of peace enforced by the Emperor Augustus, the Pax Romana. A photo of another part of the Ara Pacis was used for the cover of Book III of the Cambridge Latin Course.
The photo on page 50 shows the head of Domitian in the Museum at Ephesus.
The photo on page 54 is of a relief found in the forum of Rome. It may represent the Emperor Trajan (seated).
The photo on page 57 shows a memorial for Pliny, set up by the people of Vercelae. It gives Pliny's career up to the time he became governor of Bithynia. The red lettering has been added to the photo to supply worn or missing letters.
The letter from Agricola is fictitious, but is based on Tacitus' report of Agricola's correspondence (Tacitus - Agricola, 39)
All the characters described as members of Domitian's council (pages 43, 46-48) are historical, but the drawings are imaginary - we do not know what they really looked like.
Lucius Valerius Catullus Messalinus was generally feared and criticised by his contemporaries. He was an advocate of the death penalty for alleged crimes against the Emperor. Pliny mentions that his blindness made him inscrutable.
Quintus Vibius Crispus had a reputation for clever remarks. Once, when someone asked him if anyone was with the Emperor, he replied "nē musca quidem." (not even the flies), referring to Domitian's habit of stabbing flies with his stylus.
Aulus Fabricius Veiento survived into the reign of Nero. He is mentioned in Pliny's letters.
Publius Cornelius Fuscus was given the post of Prefect of the Praetorian Guard by Domitian. He was killed in AD 86 when he was leading a campaign against the Dacians.
Galba, mentioned in "cōnsilium Domitiānī" lines 20-24, governed Hispania Tarraconensis (Tarragonian Spain) in AD 60-68. Following the death of the Emperor Nero, Galba marched his army to Rome, seized power, and ruled for a few months until he was overthrown and killed.
AD 69 was known as "The Year of the Four Emperors" - Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian. After that Vespasian ruled for the next 10 years.
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Source : mainly from the Cambridge Latin Course Teacher's Manual
