Vitruvius (De Architectura 10.2): In trocleam induntur orbiculi duo per axiculos versationes habentes. Two pulley wheels are inserted into the block, turning on its axles. From what I can tell so far, classical Latin does not seem to have a word exactly corresponding to ‘pulley’; there was the sheave—the grooved wheel itself—orbiculus, and there was […]
Tagged 1st century BC, orbiculus, pulleys, translation, trochlea, VitruviusPseudo-Quintilian (Declamatio Maior 14.9): Illa vera sunt remedia, quæ fugatis morbis causisque languoris postea non sentiuntur, et ea tantum innocenter dabuntur, quæ potentiæ suæ qualitate consumpta desinunt, cum profuerunt. Real cures are those which are no longer felt after the diseases and the causes of weakness have been driven out; and only those which stop […]
Tagged 1st century, consumo, pseudo-Quintilian, qualitas, translationCicero, against the idea of returning to a political situation (Ad Atticum 2.7): Iam pridem gubernare me tædebat, etiam cum licebat; nunc vero cum cogar exire de navi non abiectis sed ereptis gubernaculis, cupio istorum naufragia ex terra intueri. For a long time now I’ve been tired of steering, even while I was allowed; and […]
Tagged 1st century BC, abicio, Cicero, meta, metaphor, naufragium, translationVitruvius (De Architectura 10.2): Alligatur in summo trochlea, quem etiam nonnulli rechamum dicunt. The pulley block, which some also call rechamus, is fastened at the top. This mysterious word rechamus appears to be very rare, and I would quite like to know its etymon. [For trochlea.]
Tagged 1st century BC, rechamus, translation, trochlea, VitruviusHorace, against time hallowing all things (Epistulae 2.1): ScrÄ«ptÅr ăb|hÄ«nc Än|nÅs cÄ“n|tÅ«m quÄ« | dÄ“cÄdÄt, | Ä«ntÄ“r pÄ“rfÄ“c|tÅs vÄ•tÄ•|rÄ“squÄ• rÄ•|fÄ“rrÄ« | dÄ“bÄ•t ăn | Ä«ntÄ“r vÄ«lÄ«s | ÄtquÄ• nÅ|vÅs? Ä’x|clÅ«dÄt | jÅ«rgÄă | fÄ«nÄ«s. The author who passed away a hundred years ago—should he be placed among the perfect and the ancient, or among the […]
Tagged 1st century BC, abhinc, dactylic hexameter, finis, Horace, translationPliny on how pearls are formed (Naturalis Historia, 9.54): Has ubi genitalis anni stimularit hora, pandentes se quadam oscitatione impleri roscido conceptu tradunt, gravidas postea eniti, partumque concharum esse margaritas pro qualitate roris accepti. When the birthing season of the year stimulates these creatures, it is said that they, opening themselves wide with a kind […]
Tagged 1st century, dew, Dickinson, pearls, Pliny, qualitas, translationPliny on leeks (Naturalis Historia 19.33): insigne quod, cum fimo lætoque solo gaudeat, rigua odit. et tamen proprietate quadam soli constant It is notable that while [the leek] enjoys manure and rich soil, it despises well-watered ground—and yet they endure it, when a certain distinctive property is in the soil. This one was difficult for […]
Tagged 1st century, leeks, Pliny, proprietas, translationPliny on the Labyrinth at Heracleopolis (Naturalis Historia 36.19) praeterea templa omnium Aegypti deorum contineat superque Nemesis XL aediculis incluserit pyramides complures quadragenarum ulnarum senas radice á¼€ÏοÏÏας optinentes. Additionally, it would contain temples of all the gods of Egypt, and of Nemesis as well; among its forty shrines it would have included many pyramids, each […]
Tagged 1st century, Amenemhat III, arura, Pliny, pyramids, pyramis, translation, ulnaPliny on the stone of Siphnos (Naturalis Historia 36.44): In Siphnos lapis est, qui cavatur tornaturque in vasa vel coquendis cibis utilia vel ad esculentorum usus, quod et in Comensi Italiæ lapide viridi accidere scimus, sed in Siphnio singulare quod excalfactus oleo nigrescit durescitque natura mollissimus; tanta qualitatum differentia est. In Siphnos there is a […]
Tagged 1st century, Pliny, qualitas, Sifnos, soapstone, translationCaesar, invading Britain in 54 BC (De Bello Gallico 5.17): Sed meridie, cum Caesar pabulandi causa tres legiones atque omnem equitatum cum C. Trebonio legato misisset, repente ex omnibus partibus ad pabulatores advolaverunt, sic uti ab signis legionibusque non absisterent. But at noon, when Caesar had sent three legions and the whole cavalry to forage […]
Tagged 1st century BC, absisto, Caesar, translation