| STAGE | DATE A.D. | SETTING | CHARACTERS INTRODUCED |
STORY LINE | CULTURAL BACKGROUND |
| 35 | 83 | (In letters): Italy | Manius Acilius Glabrio, Gaius Helvidius Lupus, Helvidius (son of Lupus) | Glabrio writes from Rome about Domitian's triumph over Germans and procession with Spanish slaves in German clothing. Discusses Domitian's council and private life. Praises Martial's poetry, but says he praises Emperor too much. Lupus replies, tells about country life, warns Glabrio against writing his opinion of those in power. Lupus' father was exiled and killed for criticizing Vespasian (Domitian's father). Lupus used to like Ovid, now prefers Martial. His son, Helvidius, has a girlfriend in Rome. | Country Villas |
| 36 | 83 | Rome | Marcus Valerius Martialis (the epigrammatist, known in English as Martial): assorted characters mentioned in his epigrams | Martial reads his epigrams aloud; some are extemporaneous about people in audience. Glabrio walks out at shameless praise of Emperor. Further examples of Martial's epigrams. | Recitationes |
| 37 | 84 | Rome: Palace of Domitian on Palatine hill | Domitian's council: Lucius Catullus Messalinus, Quintus Bivius Crispus (senator and ex-consul), Aulus Fabricius Veiento, Publius Cornelius Fuscus (commander of praetorian guard) | Agricola sends letter to Domitian, telling his method of acculturating Britain and of his victory at Mt. Graupius, asking permission to invade Ireland. Domitian asks opinions of council members, including Glabrio and Epaphroditus. Political maneuvering and characteristic behavior of the various council members. Agricola is to be recalled | The Emperor's Council, The Senatorial Career |
| STAGE | DATE A.D. | SETTING | CHARACTERS INTRODUCED |
STORY LINE | CULTURAL BACKGROUND |
| 38 | 90 | Rome: house of Flavius Clemens | Titus Flavius Clemens (senator, and relative of the Emperor), Flavia (Flavius' wife), Polla (their daughter), Sparsus (Polla's husband-to-be) | Domitian, childless, offers to adopt Clemens' tow sons. He also wants to marry off Clemens' daughter Polla, aged 14 to 50-year old senator, Sparsus; Clemens finds this hard, since Sparsus has divorced two wives, but is quickly overruled by Domitian. Polla protests she loves only Helvidius; her mother advises prudence, since Helvidius; grandfather was killed for offending Vespasian (Domitian's father). Helvidius swears he will not allow marriage. Wedding is interrupted by Helvidius, who is arrested, and sent to Emperor for punishment. | Marriage |
| 39 | 90 | Rome: palace of Domitian on Palatine hill | Titus and Publius (Biological sons of Flavius and Flavis, brothers of Polla, and adoptive sons of Domitian), Marcus Fabius Quintilianus (rhetorician, and tutor to Titus and Publius) | Domitian sends for his adoptive sons, Titus and Publius, to see how they are getting on with their lessons. The boys recite for him a prose version of Ovid's flood myth. The verses of Ovid follow. | Authors, Readers, and Listeners |
| STAGE | DATE A.D. | SETTING | CHARACTERS INTRODUCED |
STORY LINE | CULTURAL BACKGROUND |
| 40 | Switchback: 87 | Rome: Curia (Senate House) | Lucius Ursus Servianus (presiding judge), Vitellianus (son of Salvius and Rufilla) | Salvius is accused by Glabrio of forging Cogidubnus' will and of other crimes in Britain. Memor is one of chief witnesses against him. Domitian keeps a low profile at first, hoping that Savlius will not implicate him. Domitia, recalled, plots revenge on Salvius. Quintus (who has come to Rome from Britain) testifies against him; an angry mob howls for his blood; Rufilla abandons him; their son stands by him. Salvius decides not to reveal Domitian's involvement in hopes of saving his son, makes final will and attempts suicide, but is thwarted and condemned to five years in exile. Haterius bravely accompanies his old patron. Glabrio and Quintus are rewarded with Emperor's favor and support. Myropnous refuses freedom, happy that Paris has been avenged at last. | Roman Law Courts |
| STAGE | DATE A.D. | SETTING | CHARACTERS INTRODUCED |
STORY LINE | CULTURAL BACKGROUND |
| 41 | 109 | Bithynia and Pontus | Pliny the Younger, Emperor Trajan | Five adapted letters from Pliny to Trajan, with the Emperor's replies. | Roman Provincial Government |
| 42 | ca 50 B.C.-ca A.D. 104 | Various | Poets: Phaedrus, Catullus, and Vergil | Introduction to Latin poetry, with short selections from each of the poets listed, plus Martial and Ovid, whose poetry was introduced in Stages 36 and 39 respectively. | No separate essay; short notes precede and follow the poetic selections |
| 43 | Various | Ephesus, Rome | Widow of Ephesus, Vespillo and Turia | Selections about widowhood: story about Widow, based on the one in Petronius' Satyrica: speech by Vespillo, praising his dead wife Truia. | Divorce and Remarriage |
| 44 | Mythological | Crete, the Aegean sea | Daedalus and Icarus | Selection form Ovid's Metamorphoses, describing the ill-omened escape of Daedalus and Icarus from the Labyrinth. | Icarus in Art |
| 45 | mid-1st century B.C. | Rome | "Lesbia" (Clodia), Furius and Aurelius | Seven poems by Catullus, about his relationship with Lesbia, one satirical poem about the friends, Furius and Aurelius , and Lesbia. | Clodia (and Caelius and Cicero) |
| 46 | A.D. 79 | Misenum | Plinia (mother of Pliny the Yojnger) | Adapted letter from PLiny to Tacitus, describing his and his mother's escape from eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. | Time Chart of Roman Authors |
| STAGE | DATE A.D. | SETTING | CHARACTERS INTRODUCED |
STORY LINE | CULTURAL BACKGROUND |
| 47 | Mythological: after Trojan War | Sicily | Aeneas, Four Trojan captains | Description form Vergil's Aeneid of boat race - part of funeral games honoring Anchises | Chariot Race in Homer's Iliad |
| 48 | A.D. 59 | Rome, Baiae, Bauli | Emperor Nero, Empress Mother Agrippina, Anicetus, Crepereius Gallus, Acerronia, Seneca, Burrus | Story, based on account in Tacitus' Annales,of Nero's plot to murder his mother Agrippina | The Emperor |
| List of "Supplementary Reading in Slightly Adapted Latin" at end of Unit 4 (pp. 334-353) | |
| Petronius,Satyrica, LXII | The Werewolf Soldier |
| Pliny the Younger, Epistulae, III 5.10-17 | The Lifestyle of Pliny's Uncle |
| Pliny the Elder,Historia Naturalis,VIII.21.57-60;38.92-93; 40.96 | Travelers' Tales about "Marvelous Animals" |
| Pliny the Younger, Epistulae,VI 16.12-20 | The Death of Pliny's Uncle |
| Tacitus, Agricola, 37.2-39.1 | The Romans Win at Mount Graupius |
| Suetonius,Domitianus, 18-21 | The Lifestyle of the Emperor Domitian |
| Suetonius,Domitianus,14-17 | The Death of the Emperor Domitian |
Home Page
|
Executive Director
|
Resource Center
|
Publications Officer
Newsletter
|
Trips & Workshops
|
Cambridge Press