TEM: Lesson - Sight Reading Passage - Vesuvius Erupts, Part 1

The image shows an illustration of a Roman temple.

Sight Reading Passage - Vesuvius Erupts, Part 1

It is very important to practice reading and understanding Latin sentences. Below you will find a sight reading passage. Read each sentence aloud. Think about the case and use of the nouns? Is the noun functioning as an indirect object or showing possession? Is the noun the subject or the object of a preposition? Then practice translating each sentence into English. As you meet new vocabulary words in the story, think about English cognates and context within the sentences to help you decipher the meaning. Once you have read through the story, please use the Templum Sight Passage Reading Guide Links to an external site. to take a closer look at the passage. The Reading Guide contains several vocabulary and grammar notes to help you understand what you are reading more clearly. The reading guide will help prepare you for the module test.

If you would like additional practice with the sight passage, please download the Templum Sight Passage Work File Links to an external site.. It contains questions and exercises about the content and grammar found in the passage. Join Decimus at the dinner party and discover Roman hospitality.

Sight Passage Part 1

Please listen to the narration of the Latin passage as you read along with the text below.

Sight Passage, Part 1 - Decimus in Templo
Latin Text Notes and Vocabulary Help

Note: words/phrases that are in bold are explained in the Notes section

Post cenam, Decimus in viam festinavit. Trans forum ad portam urbis cum celeritate ambulavit. Montem Vesuvium respectavit. Decimus putabat, "Publius Cornelius, dux meus, mihi imperavit. Cornelio parebo. Officia mea sententias superant. Flaviam autem amo. Virginem desiderabo."
  • meus - my (note: this is an adjective)
  • mihi imperavit - commanded me
  • autem - however (note: postpositive adverb)
  • desiderabo - I will miss... (note: from desidero, desiderare, desideravi, desideratus - to long for, miss)

Dum Decimus ambulat, templum spectavit. Erat templum Isidis, deae Aegyptiae amoris. Romani templum in honore deae aedificaverant. Ibi Isidem sacrificiis adorabant. In templis Romani deis animalia sacrificaverunt et dona frumenti creaverunt. Decimus de deis putavit, "Deos multos adoro. Martem, deum belli, adoro. Neptunus, deus maris, mihi favet. Iuppiter, rex deorum et deus caeli, Romam servat. Deas autem non adoro: neque Iunonem, reginam deorum et deam feminae, neque Cerem, deam frumenti, neque Venerem, deam amoris. Me mutabo! Pro Flavia deae Isidi in templo sacrificabo!"
  • Dum - While (note: the verb in a "dum clause" matches the tense of the main verb: While Decimus was walking...)
  • Ibi - There (note: this is an adverb)
  • mihi - me (note: this is a dative form; the dative is being used with the special verb favet)
  • non adoro...neque...neque...neque - I don't worship...not Juno...nor...nor
  • me - me (note: this is an accusative form)
  • sacrificabo - I will make a sacrifice (from sacrifico, sacrificare, sacrificavi, sacrificatus - to sacrifice)
Decimus templum Isidis intravit. Sacerdotem Isidis vidit. Pomum et lac pecunia obtinuit. Dona in ara prope ignem locavit et deae Isidi orabat, "Fave, O magna dea, mihi cum amore. Fave Flaviae, meae amori. Da nobis felicitatem. Si felicitatem habuerimus, semper te adorabo!"
  • Sacerdotem - priest/priestess (sacerdos, sacerdotis, m/f)
  • Da nobis - Give us... (note: nobis is dative)
  • semper - always (note: this is an adverb)
  • te - you (note: this is accusative)
Subito terra movit. Eratne signum? Delictaveratne Decimus deam Isidem? Quod templum crepuit, multi cives timebant, sed Decimum non terruit. Iterum deae Isidi inquit, "Semper, O magna dea, te adorabo et laudabo!"Illa nocte Decimus e templo ambulavit et per viam ex urbe festinavit. Prima luce Decimus Miseno appropinquavit.
  • Subito - suddenly (note: this is an adverb)
  • Eratne - Was it...? (note: -ne creates a yes/no question)
  • Delictaveratne - Had Decimus pleased...
  • Quod - Because
  • crepuit - rattled
  • Iterum - Again (note: this is an adverb)
  • O magna dea - O, great goddess
  • Illa nocte - That night (note: this is the ablative of time; note the lack of a preposition + time expression in the ablative case)
  • Prima luce - At dawn
  • Miseno appropinquavit - ...approached Misenum (note: the verb appropinquare can take a dative, like the special verbs)

Practice Activity