Aeneid 1:12-18 Course Notes

Latin IV:  Vergil, Aeneid

Instructor:  James Ransom

June 1, 2014

Aeneid 1:12-18

Course Notes
© 2014 James Ransom, M.A., J.D.

Urbs antiqua fuit, Tyrii tenuere coloni,
Karthago, Italiam contra Tiberinaque longe
ostia, dives opum studiisque asperrima belli;
quam Iuno fertur terris magis omnibus unam               15
posthabita coluisse Samo; hic illius arma,
hic currus fuit; hoc regnum dea gentibus esse,
si qua fata sinant, iam tum tenditque fovetque.

Urbs antiqua fuit, Tyrii tenuere coloni,
Karthago…

There once was a citadel, founded by Tyrian exiles: 

Carthage…

“fuit” is third person singular perfect indicative active of sum, esse, fui, futurus.  “tenuere” is an archaic and poetic alternative to “tenuerunt,” which is third person plural perfect indicative active of teneo, tenere, tenui, tentum, “to hold, possess, occupy, control.” 

“urbs” is nominative singular of urbs, urbis, f. (3^rd), “a walled city.”  The adjective “antiqua” is nominative feminine singular of antiquus, antiqua, antiquum (1^st/2^nd).  “Tyrii” is genitive plural of Tyrus, Tyrii, f. (2^nd), “Tyre” (Phoenician city).  “coloni” is nominative plural of colonus, coloni, m. (2^nd).  “Karthago” is nominative of Karthago, Karthaginis, f. (3^rd), Carthage, in North Africa, near present-day Tunis. 

…Italiam contra Tiberinaque longe
ostia…

Across the sea from distant Italy and the Tiber’s mouth;

“Italiam” is accusative of Italia, Italiae, f. (1st), “Italy.”  The preposition “contra”=”against, opposite,” and takes the accusative: here, both the direct objects “Italiam” and  “Tiberina…ostia.” “Tiberina” is neuter accusative plural of Tiberinus, Tiberina, Tiberinum.  “ostia” is accusative plural of ostium, ostii, n., “entrance, estuary, mouth.” The adverb “longe”=  “distant, afar.”

  …dives opum studiisque asperrima belli

…rich in banked wealth, and masters in the savage art of  war;

“dives” is feminine nominative singular of dives, divitis (3^rd), “rich, wealthy, talented.” “opum” is genitive plural of opes, opum, f. (3^rd), “power, resources, wealth.”  “studiis” is ablative plural of  studium, studii, n. (2^nd), “study, eagerness, zeal.” Ablative of respect; see Ganiban note 14.  “asperrima” is superlative of the adjective asper, aspera, asperum (1^st/2^nd), “rough, rude, savage.”  “belli” is genitive singular of bellum, belli, n. (2^nd), “war.”   

 quam Iuno fertur terris magis omnibus unam               15
posthabita coluisse Samo;

And, legend relates, favored by Juno far above all other lands, leaving even Samos in the dust;

“fertur” is third person singular present indicative passive of fero, ferre, tuli, latum, “to bear, report.”  Construe with “coluisse, the perfect infinitive active of colo, colere, colui, cultum, “to worship, honor.”:  “is said to have cherished…”

“quam”: conjunction=”than.” “Iuno”:  nominative of Iuno, Iunonis, f. (3^rd). “terris” is ablative plural of terra, terrae, f. (1^st); ablative of comparison. “magis”: indeclinable adverb=”more, greater.” “omnibus” is feminine ablative plural of the adjective omnis, omne, m./f. (3^rd), “every, all.”  “unam”is accusative feminine singular of unus.  Here it has intensive effect. 

“posthabita…Samo”:  ablative absolute.  “posthabita” is perfect passive participle of posthabeo, posthabere, posthabui, posthabitum, “to place, after, esteem less.”  “Samo”:  ablative of Samos, f., island birthplace of Juno and home to her major cult.    

                                     …hic illius arma,
hic currus fuit;…

In Carthage were her sword and shield, here stood her chariot;

“fuit” is third person singular perfect indicative active of sum, esse, fui, futurus. 

The adverb “hic”= “here,” i.e, at Carthage.  “illius” is genitive singular of the personal pronoun ille, illa, illud. “arma” is nominative of arma, armorum, n.  “currus” is nominative singular of currus, currus, m. (4^th), “chariot.”