LATIN WORD OF THE DAY

By Nina Tiberia (Tonina Rodenberger)

Qod licet Iovi, non licet bovi.

quod here: what (relative pronoun 1st pers. singular neuter)
licet it is allowed
Iovis Jupiter (Iovi = dative)
bos, bovis, masc. bull, ox (bovi = dative singular)

"Quod licet Iovi, non licet bovi" is a Latin phrase, litterally meaning "What is legitimate for Jove (Jupiter) is not legitimate for oxen".

The phrase was created by Terence, a playwright of the Roman Republic in reference to the myth wherein Jupiter took the form of a bull to seduce Europa. The phrase is often translated as "Gods may do what cattle may not".

It indicates the existence of a double standard (justifiable or otherwise), and essentially means "What is permitted to one person or a group, is not permitted to everyone".

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LATIN WORD of the DAY

by Tonina Rodenberger

Concordia, ae, fem. (noun) = harmony, unity

"Ibi semper victoria, ubi concordia est."

"Where there is harmony, there always is victory."

This sentence comes from Publilius Syrus, a roman writer of maxims, who lived in the 1st century BC.

Publilius was a Syrian, who was brought as a slave to Italy and he won the favor of his master by his wit and talent. His mimes, in which he acted himself, were of great success in the provincial towns of Italy and when in 46 BC Caesar gave games, Publilius was invited to a contest of mimes, in which he vanquished all his competitors.

Unfortunately all of his mimes got lost and all that remains of his works is a collection of Sentences (Sententiae), a series of moral maxims in iambic and trochaic verse. Each maxim consists of a single verse and the verses are arranged in alphabetical order. In the course of time the collection was interpolated with sentences from other writers, so its not sure how many of them are originally drawn by Publilius himself.

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LATIN WORD of the DAY

by Tonina Rodenberger

PEACE ON EARTH

ET IN TERRA PAX HOMINIBUS = AND ON EARTH PEACE TO MEN

That is what we all wish each other for Christmas…and probably not only then. The longing for peace is as old as mankind itself but as long as mankind exists there has always been also the desire for power and might, which is an obstacle for the peace we need.

I want to wish you all a peaceful Christmas and of course a very happy Saturnalia!

Terra,ae, f. = earth

Pax, pacis, f. = peace

Homo, hominis, m. = human being

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LATIN WORD of the DAY

by Tonina Rodenberger

AMICITIA, ae, f. = friendship, alliance

In Roman times "amicitia" described more a friendly relationship in the social and political sector and was therefore an important term also for foreign politics. For a more personal friendship the term "familiaris" was used.

amicitiam petere = to aim for friendship

amicitiam dirumpere = to break off friendship

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