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Anonymous Origin of the Roman People IntraText CT - Text |
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XXI. [1] But in truth, Valerius handed over the children born of Rhea Silva to king Amulius, who gave them to his servant Faustulus to kill them. But the children weren't killed by him (F.) but - after pleading by Numitor - given to his (girl)friend Acca Laurentia to nurture, a woman who was known as a whore37 because she was accustomed to sell her body for money. [2] Note that - since women who sell their body are thusly called (lupa) - the places where they do so are called lupanaria (brothels). [3] When the boys had become strong enough for an honourable training, 38 they learned Greek and Latin thanks to a stay in Gabii, secretly sustained by their grandfather Numitor. [4] Immediately when they became adult, when he learned from his master Faustulus who his grandfather and mother were, and what had become of them, Romulus went straight with an army of sheperds to Alba and after killing Amulius restored his grandfather Numitor to the reign. He was called Romulus because of his great force; because it is certain that in the Greek language roomein means force. The other one was called Remus bevause of his slowness, because men of such nature are since long called remores. 39
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37. The first suggestion, "the wolf" is incorrect; "whore" is the meaning. Lupa, lupae means also "female wolf" (Plinius uses the term), but "whore" seems to be the correct meaning here (see Plautius). So the translation would be: ' But the children weren't killed by him but -after pleading by Numitor - given to his (girl)friend Acca Laurentia to nurture them like a wife, although she was known as a whore since she was accustomed to sell her body for money'. mulier means woman, but also wife (Cicero) I think in that context "wife" would be the correct translation. -- Michael Kuettner Thanks! I've changed lupa to whore, but I think that the "quam mulier" part is not 'like a wife' but is a pseudorelative: eam mulier (...) lupam dictam. I translated it like that, but am always open for correction. -- Steven It's my
English, I'm afraid. I've meant to say : He gave them to her, as if she was his
(a) wife, although she was a whore. Lupa, lupae - whore
(Plautus). Thanks, I changed the paragraph accordingly. -- Steven 38. capaces facti essent must be one of the most inelegant Latin phrases I ever heard. In fact this entire paragraph sounds as if the author was in dire need of a good night's rest. Or perhaps it's just me who needs a rest :-) -- Steven 39. remores not found in the dictionary. -- Steven Remores, remorum were originally some special kinds of birds. When seen by the pontifex or augurs when they were in the middle of a sacrifice, the sacrifice had to be postponed. Thusly "remores" means obstructive people - people who hinder the course of things. --- Michael Kuettner |
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