05 Minimus II - Moving on in Latin

ROMAN REPORT

We can read about Flavius's friend Brocchus in several of the letters from Vindolanda. Brocchus was the prefect of the nearby fort at Briga. In their spare time, Flavius and Brocchus loved to go hunting. In one letter Flavius asked Brocchus to send him some hunting nets "and you should repair the pieces very strongly" .

Although York (Eboracum) is a big city today, when Flavius lived there it was a much smaller town surrounded by woods. Hunting was one of the main forms of relaxation for both soldiers and civilians. People hunted on horseback or on foot. They hunted all kinds of animals and they also liked to hunt birds, including geese and swans. Fishing was popular too. In Roman times, Britain was famous for producing excellent hunting dogs.

Corinthus was not interested in joining the hunt, but Candidus's description has reminded him of a famous Greek story about a boar. He tells the story to Candidus and Pandora.

THE HUNT FOR THE CALYDONIAN BOAR

Oeneus, King of Calydon, forgot to sacrifice to the goddess Artemis. Enraged, she sent a monstrous boar to ravage the countryside. Oeneus's son, Meleager, gathered together several Greek heroes and the beautiful huntress Atalanta, and they set off on a great boarhunt. Meleager fell in love with Atalanta, so he was delighted when she aimed her spear at the boar and was the first to draw blood. The boar went mad with pain and several of the heroes were killed, along with their hunting dogs. Finally Meleager struck the fatal blow. He presented Atalanta with the head and the hide of the boar, believing that she deserved the triumph. This caused great jealousy among the heroes and a fight broke out, which resulted in Meleager's tragic death.

Barates comes to buy

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Flavius, ad atrium vocatus, quam celerrime festinat.

Candidus, a domina rnissus,

Slave girl wanted!

Lepidina is cross when she discovers that Flavius has sold Pandora.

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