MS: Overview

Image: a statue depicting a wedding ceremony in ancient Rome.

Overview: Caedes Foedissima - pars X

Miror utrum tu futura sis Gaia, ubi ego Gaius.
I wonder whether you will be Gaia, where I am Gaius.
A play on the famous Roman marriage vow

Pseudolus had discovered something incredible: Marcellus, according to his wife, was infatuated with Selene. Had he simply never noticed? Did Selene reciprocate his feelings? Even though this information was incredible, he had decided to take a brief break from the investigation; he was really not looking forward to talking to Juba about this matter. However, he never stopped thinking about all that he had heard.

In the meantime, after having an argument, Alexander and Juba decided to participate in a race at the circus to settle the debate. During the race, Alexander's chariot broke apart, causing him grievous injury. Alexander blamed Juba, claiming sabotage and begging Selene to reconsider the marriage.

Even after the terrible crash, and Alexander's semi-conscious anger, Pseudolus still could not bring himself to confront Juba. Alexander would recover, but could Pseudolus face the possibility that Alexander's anger towards Juba could have deeper implications for Selene?

Days turned to weeks turned to months, as again, Pseudolus forced himself to focus on his actual work, rather than his mounting concerns about the death of Marcellus. The weather had grown warm, and June was approaching quickly. On the Kalends of June, Juba and Selene were to be married. For Pseudolus, it was now or never. As he prepared to meet with Juba, a new message arrived from Livia - what could possibly make this case more complicated?

Handouts: Study Guide and Reading Help 

As you progress through the module, please download and use the Study Guide Links to an external site. to assist you in your note taking. The study guide can help guide your understanding of the module and provides important practice for the concepts covered on each page. At the end of the module, you can then use the study guide as a tool to help prepare you for the module exam.

For Latin II, there will be a story told in parts, with each module telling a part of the story by presenting Latin reading passages. To successfully complete the reading for each module, please download the Reading Help Links to an external site. handout now and use it while completing the story lessons.

Essential Questions

  1. What is an infinitive?
  2. What are the forms of the Latin infinitive?
  3. What is indirect statement?
  4. How is an indirect statement created in Latin?
  5. What were the marriage practices of the Romans?
  6. What was a Roman wedding like?

Key Terms

  1. Infinitive - a verbal noun.  Infinitives have characteristics of both verbs and nouns.  Infinitives can be used conventionally or in an indirect statement.
  2. Conventional Infinitive - this infinitive is used as a nominative or accusative case noun.
  3. Indirect Statement - when a statement is reported or paraphrased, rather than directly quoted
  4. Verb - A verb, from the Latin verbum meaning word, is traditionally defined as a word that conveys an action or state of being. In Latin, a verb is a word that uses endings which indicate five characteristics - person, number, tense, voice and mood. It additionally has non-finite uses (infinitive, participle, gerund).
  5. Person- The point of view of the subject, 1st, 2nd or 3rd person
  6. Number- Singular or Plural
  7. Tense- The time of action of the verb
  8. Conjugation- A family of verbs
  9. Voice- Active or Passive
  10. Principal parts- The essential forms of a Latin verb which provide verb stems.
  11. Verb stem- The basic form of a verb on which endings will be added.  There are two main stems: present and perfect. Stems are obtained from the principal parts.
  12. Matrimonium - the Latin word for marriage
  13. Iustae Nuptiae - the set of laws governing marriage in Rome
  14. Marriage Terms:
    • confarreatio - the original, strict form of patrician marriage.
    • manus - the possession of a woman as property via marriage.
    • tunica recta - wedding gown.
    • nodus Herculaneus - knot of Hercules.
    • flammeum - crimson bridal veil.
    • nubere - to veil, eventually means to marry

ALL RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.