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124.1 Caput head Chrīstī of Christ spīnīs with thorns corōnātum crowned est was
124.2 Iōannēs John caput head suum his inclīnāvit bowed
124.3 In on capite head eius his oleum oil sacrum holy effūsum poured est was
124.4 Capita heads nostra our cineribus with ashes asperguntur are sprinkled
124.5 Sacerdōs priest benedīxit blessed caput head puerī of child
124.6 Capitis of head dolōre with pain sanctus saint labōrābat was suffering
124.7 Super upon caput head ēius his columba dove dēscendit descended
124.8 Capitibus heads velātīs veiled muliērēs women ōrant pray
124.9 Angelus angel tetigit touched caput head virginis of virgin
124.10 Ā from capite head ad to pedēs feet mundus clean factus made est was
124.11 Rex king caput head suum his corōnā with crown aureā golden ōrnāvit adorned
124.12 Capillī hairs capitis of head vestrī your omnēs all numerātī numbered sunt are
124.13 Monachī monks capita heads sua their rādunt shave
124.14 Capitī to head īnfantis of infant aqua water baptismālis baptismal īnfunditur is poured
124.15 Sine without capite head corpus body vīvere to live nōn not potest can
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124.1 Caput Chrīstī spīnīs corōnātum est. Christ's head was crowned with thorns.
124.2 Iōannēs caput suum inclīnāvit. John bowed his head.
124.3 In capite eius oleum sacrum effūsum est. Holy oil was poured on his head.
124.4 Capita nostra cineribus asperguntur. Our heads are sprinkled with ashes.
124.5 Sacerdōs caput puerī benedīxit. The priest blessed the child's head.
124.6 Sanctus capitis dolōre labōrābat. The saint was suffering from a headache.
124.7 Super caput ēius columba dēscendit. A dove descended upon his head.
124.8 Muliērēs capitibus velātīs ōrant. Women pray with veiled heads.
124.9 Angelus caput virginis tetigit. The angel touched the virgin's head.
124.10 Ā capite ad pedēs mundus factus est. He was made clean from head to foot.
124.11 Rex caput suum corōnā aureā ōrnāvit. The king adorned his head with a golden crown.
124.12 Capillī capitis vestrī omnēs numerātī sunt. The hairs of your head are all numbered.
124.13 Monachī capita sua rādunt. Monks shave their heads.
124.14 Capitī īnfantis aqua baptismālis īnfunditur. Baptismal water is poured on the infant's head.
124.15 Sine capite corpus vīvere nōn potest. Without a head, a body cannot live.
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124.1 Caput Chrīstī spīnīs corōnātum est.
124.2 Iōannēs caput suum inclīnāvit.
124.3 In capite eius oleum sacrum effūsum est.
124.4 Capita nostra cineribus asperguntur.
124.5 Sacerdōs caput puerī benedīxit.
124.6 Sanctus capitis dolōre labōrābat.
124.7 Super caput ēius columba dēscendit.
124.8 Muliērēs capitibus velātīs ōrant.
124.9 Angelus caput virginis tetigit.
124.10 Ā capite ad pedēs mundus factus est.
124.11 Rex caput suum corōnā aureā ōrnāvit.
124.12 Capillī capitis vestrī omnēs numerātī sunt.
124.13 Monachī capita sua rādunt.
124.14 Capitī īnfantis aqua baptismālis īnfunditur.
124.15 Sine capite corpus vīvere nōn potest.
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For English speakers learning Latin, caput presents several important grammatical features: -
Declension Pattern: Caput belongs to the third declension neuter nouns. Its stem changes from cap- in the nominative/accusative singular to capit- in all other forms: -
Nominative/Accusative singular: caput -
Genitive singular: capitis -
Dative singular: capitī -
Ablative singular: capite -
Nominative/Accusative plural: capita -
Genitive plural: capitum -
Dative/Ablative plural: capitibus -
Case Usage Examples: -
Nominative: "Caput Chrīstī corōnātum est" (subject) -
Genitive: "dolōre capitis" (possession/specification) -
Dative: "capitī īnfantis" (indirect object) -
Accusative: "caput suum inclīnāvit" (direct object) -
Ablative: "in capite eius" (place where) -
Common Constructions: -
With prepositions: "in capite" (on the head), "super caput" (upon the head), "ā capite" (from the head) -
With adjectives: "caput sacrum" (holy head), "capita velāta" (veiled heads) -
In idiomatic expressions: "ā capite ad pedēs" (from head to foot) -
Word Order Flexibility: Note how Latin varies the position of caput for emphasis: -
Beginning: "Caput Chrīstī..." (emphasizing the head) -
Middle: "Iōannēs caput suum..." (neutral position) -
With ablative absolute: "capitibus velātīs" (heads having been veiled)
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Understanding caput in Ecclesiastical Latin requires awareness of its religious and cultural significance: -
Biblical Symbolism: The head represents leadership and authority in Christian texts. Christ is called the "head" of the Church (caput Ecclēsiae), while believers form the body. -
Liturgical Practices: -
Anointing: Holy oil (chrism) is applied to the head during baptism, confirmation, and ordination -
Ash Wednesday: Ashes are placed on the head or forehead as a sign of repentance -
Veiling: Women traditionally covered their heads in church (1 Corinthians 11) -
Monastic Tonsure: The shaving of monks' heads (corona) symbolized: -
Renunciation of worldly vanity -
The crown of thorns worn by Christ -
Dedication to spiritual life -
Crown Symbolism: Both earthly crowns (corōna aurea) and Christ's crown of thorns (corōna spīnea) appear frequently in religious texts, contrasting temporal and spiritual authority. -
Medical Understanding: Medieval texts often discuss "dolor capitis" (headache) and other ailments, mixing spiritual and physical remedies.
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From the Vulgate, Matthew 27:29-30:
Et plectentēs corōnam dē spīnīs, posuērunt super caput eius, et arundinem in dexterā eius. Et genuā flexō ante eum, illūdēbant eī, dicentēs: Avē, rex Iūdaeōrum. Et expuentēs in eum, accēpērunt arundinem, et percutiēbant caput eius.
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Et and plectentēs weaving corōnam crown dē from spīnīs thorns posuērunt they placed super upon caput head eius his et and arundinem reed in in dexterā right hand eius his Et and genuā knees flexō bent ante before eum him illūdēbant they mocked eī him dicentēs saying Avē hail rex king Iūdaeōrum of Jews Et and expuentēs spitting in on eum him accēpērunt they took arundinem reed et and percutiēbant they struck caput head eius his
Et plectentēs corōnam dē spīnīs, posuērunt super caput eius, et arundinem in dexterā eius. Et genuā flexō ante eum, illūdēbant eī, dicentēs: Avē, rex Iūdaeōrum. Et expuentēs in eum, accēpērunt arundinem, et percutiēbant caput eius.
And weaving a crown from thorns, they placed it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand. And bending their knees before him, they mocked him, saying: "Hail, king of the Jews." And spitting on him, they took the reed and struck his head.
Et plectentēs corōnam dē spīnīs, posuērunt super caput eius, et arundinem in dexterā eius. Et genuā flexō ante eum, illūdēbant eī, dicentēs: Avē, rex Iūdaeōrum. Et expuentēs in eum, accēpērunt arundinem, et percutiēbant caput eius.
This passage demonstrates several key uses of caput: -
Prepositional phrases: "super caput eius" uses the accusative after super to indicate motion onto -
Direct object: "percutiēbant caput eius" shows caput as the direct object of the imperfect verb -
Participial constructions: "plectentēs" (weaving), "expuentēs" (spitting) are present active participles -
Ablative absolute: "genuā flexō" (knees having been bent) shows the common absolute construction -
Word order: Note how "caput eius" appears twice, both times with the possessive following the noun for emphasis on the suffering inflicted on Christ's head
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124.16 Hērōdēs Herod rex king tenuit seized Iōannem John et and in in carcerem prison mīsit sent
124.17 Prophēta prophet sanctus holy caput head suum his prō for vēritāte truth dedit gave
124.18 Fīlia daughter Hērōdiadis of Herodias saltāvit danced et and caput head Iōannis of John petīvit asked for
124.19 In on discō platter argenteō silver caput head praecursōris of precursor allātum brought est was
124.20 Discipulī disciples corpus body sine without capite head sepelīvērunt buried
124.21 Hērōdēs Herod audīre to hear verba words capitis of head abscīsī cut off timēbat feared
124.22 Māter mother impia wicked caput head sanctum holy acū with needle trānsfīxit pierced
124.23 Sanguis blood dē from capite head marytris of martyr in onto terram earth flūxit flowed
124.24 Angelī angels caput head Baptistae of Baptist in into caelum heaven portāvērunt carried
124.25 Multī many crēdidērunt believed videntēs seeing caput head loquēns speaking post after mortem death
124.26 Rex king inīquus wicked territus terrified est was vīsiōne by vision capitis of head dēcollātī beheaded
124.27 Ecclēsia church celebrat celebrates fēstum feast capitis of head Iōannis of John Baptistae Baptist
124.28 In in somnīs dreams caput head prophētae of prophet rēgem king accūsābat accused
124.29 Lūx light caelestis heavenly circumfulsit shone around caput head martyris of martyr sacrum holy
124.30 Fidēlēs faithful venerātur venerate locum place ubi where caput head sanctī of saint servātur is preserved
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124.16 Hērōdēs rex Iōannem tenuit et in carcerem mīsit. King Herod seized John and sent him to prison.
124.17 Prophēta sanctus caput suum prō vēritāte dedit. The holy prophet gave his head for the truth.
124.18 Fīlia Hērōdiadis saltāvit et caput Iōannis petīvit. The daughter of Herodias danced and asked for John's head.
124.19 In discō argenteō caput praecursōris allātum est. The precursor's head was brought on a silver platter.
124.20 Discipulī corpus sine capite sepelīvērunt. The disciples buried the body without the head.
124.21 Hērōdēs verba capitis abscīsī audīre timēbat. Herod feared to hear the words of the severed head.
124.22 Māter impia caput sanctum acū trānsfīxit. The wicked mother pierced the holy head with a needle.
124.23 Sanguis dē capite martyris in terram flūxit. Blood flowed from the martyr's head onto the earth.
124.24 Angelī caput Baptistae in caelum portāvērunt. Angels carried the Baptist's head to heaven.
124.25 Multī crēdidērunt videntēs caput post mortem loquēns. Many believed when they saw the head speaking after death.
124.26 Rex inīquus vīsiōne capitis dēcollātī territus est. The wicked king was terrified by the vision of the beheaded head.
124.27 Ecclēsia fēstum capitis Iōannis Baptistae celebrat. The Church celebrates the feast of the head of John the Baptist.
124.28 In somnīs caput prophētae rēgem accūsābat. In dreams the prophet's head accused the king.
124.29 Lūx caelestis caput martyris sacrum circumfulsit. Heavenly light shone around the holy martyr's head.
124.30 Fidēlēs locum ubi caput sanctī servātur venerātur. The faithful venerate the place where the saint's head is preserved.
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124.16 Hērōdēs rex Iōannem tenuit et in carcerem mīsit.
124.17 Prophēta sanctus caput suum prō vēritāte dedit.
124.18 Fīlia Hērōdiadis saltāvit et caput Iōannis petīvit.
124.19 In discō argenteō caput praecursōris allātum est.
124.20 Discipulī corpus sine capite sepelīvērunt.
124.21 Hērōdēs verba capitis abscīsī audīre timēbat.
124.22 Māter impia caput sanctum acū trānsfīxit.
124.23 Sanguis dē capite martyris in terram flūxit.
124.24 Angelī caput Baptistae in caelum portāvērunt.
124.25 Multī crēdidērunt videntēs caput post mortem loquēns.
124.26 Rex inīquus vīsiōne capitis dēcollātī territus est.
124.27 Ecclēsia fēstum capitis Iōannis Baptistae celebrat.
124.28 In somnīs caput prophētae rēgem accūsābat.
124.29 Lūx caelestis caput martyris sacrum circumfulsit.
124.30 Fidēlēs locum ubi caput sanctī servātur venerātur.
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The hagiographical narrative demonstrates advanced uses of caput in religious storytelling: -
Genitive Constructions for Possession and Description: -
"caput Iōannis" (John's head) - simple possession -
"caput praecursōris" (the precursor's head) - title as possessor -
"capitis abscīsī" (of the severed head) - with perfect passive participle -
"capitis dēcollātī" (of the beheaded head) - participle as adjective -
Metaphorical and Literal Uses: -
Literal: "in discō argenteō caput" (head on a platter) -
Metaphorical: "caput suum prō vēritāte dedit" (gave his head for truth) -
Miraculous: "caput post mortem loquēns" (head speaking after death) -
Participial Phrases: -
"videntēs caput loquēns" - present participle modifying caput -
"vīsiōne capitis dēcollātī" - perfect passive participle in genitive -
Liturgical Language: -
"fēstum capitis Iōannis Baptistae" - feast day construction -
"caput martyris sacrum" - sacred terminology -
"locum ubi caput sanctī servātur" - relative clause for relics -
Varied Word Order for Narrative Effect: -
Emphasis on action: "tenuit Iōannem" -
Emphasis on subject: "Prophēta sanctus caput suum dedit" -
Dramatic placement: "caput post mortem loquēns"
This genre section shows how ecclesiastical Latin uses caput both literally in martyrdom accounts and symbolically in religious narratives, maintaining classical grammar while developing distinctly Christian vocabulary and themes.
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