Prose Selection 3: Sight Reading

A statue of the medieval writer Isidore of Seville. The stone is engraved San Isidoro

We are going to continue reading about monsters in Latin, but we're going to shift both the author and the time frame. Our next passage was written by Isidore of Seville, who lived from 560-636 CE. His name may have given you some clue, but Isidore was from Seville in Spain and wrote at a time when the Holy Roman Empire was in its early stages. Isidore was a central figure in the conversion of Spain to Christianity.

How much of an impact do you think this dramatic shift in perspective will make in the writing? Pliny was writing at the height of the classical Roman empire, fully enmeshed in the classical, pre-Christian culture. Isidore is writing at a time when the classical, pre-Christian Roman empire was fading and a new, Christian-centered empire was rising (though it was still in transition). How much do you think this new and growing religion will affect the writing of Isidore when compared to Pliny?

Isidore's Writing

For Pliny, we've been reading a set of "natural histories" - a generally "scientific" view of the world with the analysis based on a set of "facts" followed by some basic analysis and discussion of those facts. Isidore's most well-known work (from which we'll be reading) was called the Etymologies. It is formatted similarly to Pliny (facts followed by analysis), but the facts are based on the meanings and origins of specific words, rather than concepts.

NOTE:
You will see in the text that certain words are fully capitalized. These are the source words (Greek) that Isidore is discussing within his analysis - for these words, you can just read them as they are written (no need to try to interpret).

For any of you who are drawn to Latin because you have an interest in things like etymology, you may find Isidore's writing very interesting! For those who aren't as interested in the history of certain words or terms, you will likely find some of his explanations interesting - the conclusions can be as fascinating as the origins!

Below you will find the entire selection of Latin that you need to read. Following the passage is a set of questions based on your sight reading. You can redo the practice items as many times as you like. Use the practice questions to help guide your reading.

Isidore of Seville, Etymologiae, Liber XI, III.12-17, 28-31: Various Monsters, Not Human

[12] Sicut autem in singulis gentibus quaedam monstra sunt hominum, ita in universo genere humano quaedam monstra sunt gentium, ut Gigantes, Cynocephali, Cyclopes, et cetera. [13] Gigantes dictos iuxta Graeci sermonis etymologiam, qui eos GEGENEIS existimant, id est terrigenas, eo quod eos fabulose parens terra inmensa mole et similes sibi genuerit. GE enim terra appellatur: GENOS genus; licet et terrae filios vulgus vocat: quorum genus incertum est. [14] Falso autem opinantur quidam inperiti de Scripturis sanctis praevaricatores angelos cum filiabus hominum ante diluvium concubuisse, et exinde natos Gigantes, id est nimium grandes et fortes viros, de quibus terra conpleta est. [15] Cynocephali appellantur eo quod canina capita habeant, quosque ipse latratus magis bestias quam homines confitetur. Hi in India nascuntur. [16] Cyclopes quoque eadem India gignit; et dictos Cyclopes eo quod unum habere oculum in fronte media perhibentur. Hi et AGRIOFAGITAI dicuntur, propter quod solas ferarum carnes edunt. [17] Blemmyas in Libya credunt truncos sine capite nasci, et os et oculos habere in pectore. Alios sine cervicibus gigni, oculos habentes in humeris.

[28] Dicuntur autem et alia hominum fabulosa portenta, quae non sunt, sed ficta in causis rerum interpretantur, ut Geryonem Hispaniae regem triplici forma proditum. Fuerunt enim tres fratres tantae concordiae ut in tribus corporibus quasi una anima esset. [29] Gorgones quoque meretrices crinitas serpentibus, quae aspicientes convertebant in lapides, habentes unum oculum quem invicem utebantur. Fuerunt autem tres sorores unius pulchritudinis, quasi unius oculi, quae ita spectatores suos stupescere faciebant ut vertere eos putarentur in lapides. [30] Sirenas tres fingunt fuisse ex parte virgines, ex parte volucres, habientes alas et ungulas: quarum una voce, altera tibiis, tertia lyra canebant. Quae inlectos navigantes sub cantu in naufragium trahebant. [31] Secundum veritatem autem meretrices fuerunt, quae transeuntes quoniam deducebant ad egestatem, his fictae sunt inferre naufragia. Alas autem habuisse et ungulas, quia amor et volat et vulnerat. Quae inde in fluctibus conmorasse dicuntur, quia fluctus Venerem creaverunt.

Practice Questions: Isidore, Passage 3 - Sight Reading

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