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Tacitus, Annals, 15.20­-23, 33­-45. Latin Text, Study Aids with Vocabulary, and Commentary, 2013a

Tacitus, Annals, 15.20­-23, 33­-45. Latin Text, Study Aids with Vocabulary, and Commentary, 2013a

Tacitus, Annals, 15.20­-23, 33­-45. Latin Text, Study Aids with Vocabulary, and Commentary, 2013a

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[34]<br />

1 Illic, plerique ut arbitrabantur, triste, ut ipse, providum potius et secundis<br />

numinibus evenit: nam egresso qui adfuerat populo vacuum et sine ullius<br />

noxa theatrum conlapsum est. ergo per compositos cantus grates dis atque<br />

ipsam recentis casus fortunam celebrans petiturusque maris Hadriae<br />

traiectus apud Beneventum interim consedit, ubi gladiatorium munus a<br />

Vatinio celebre edebatur. 2 Vatinius inter foedissima eius aulae ostenta fuit,<br />

sutrinae tabernae alumnus, corpore detorto, facetiis scurrilibus; primo in<br />

contumelias adsumptus, dehinc optimi cuiusque criminatione eo usque<br />

valuit ut gratia pecunia vi nocendi etiam malos praemineret.<br />

<br />

State <strong>and</strong> explain the case of secundis numinibus.<br />

Parse casus.<br />

What is striking about the phrase maris Hadriae?<br />

What does ‘Beneventum’ mean <strong>and</strong> how does <strong>Tacitus</strong> play <strong>with</strong> the name?<br />

What type of ablative is corpore?<br />

What type of clause is ut introducing here?<br />

What type of ablatives are gratia pecunia vi nocendi? What makes this phrase<br />

particularly effective?<br />

Stylistic Appreciation: With reference to <strong>Tacitus</strong>’ choice <strong>and</strong> position of words <strong>and</strong> other<br />

stylistic features, discuss how this chapter contributes to an impression of the perversity of<br />

Nero <strong>and</strong> his court.<br />

Discussion Point: Why does Vatinius appal <strong>Tacitus</strong> so much? What about imperial Rome<br />

made figures such as Vatinius possible? Are there any comparable figures in later history or<br />

in the present day? What do you make of the link between physical <strong>and</strong> moral deformity: is<br />

physiognomy entirely dead in modern popular thought?

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