← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
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Salvēte, discipulī cārissimī! In lectiōne praecēdentī dē cubiculō et somnō dīdicimus — dē lectīs pulvīnāribus strātīs, dē cervīcālibus et tegitibus. Nunc dē mundō corporis discēmus! Corpus enim cotīdiē lavāre dēbēmus; capillōs pectere; faciem tergere. Haec sunt officia vītae cotīdiānae!
Greetings, dearest students! In the preceding lesson we learned about the bedroom and sleep — about beds covered with cushions, about pillows and coverlets. Now we shall learn about cleanliness of the body! For we must wash the body daily; comb the hair; wipe the face. These are the duties of daily life!
Hodiē dē balneō et tōnsōre discēmus. Rōmānī balnea pūblica amābant — ibi sudābant, lavābantur, ūnguēbantur. Tōnsor crīnēs tondēbat et comam pectēbat. Munda vita est bona vita!
Today we shall learn about the bath and the barber. The Romans loved public baths — there they used to sweat, be washed, be anointed. A barber used to cut the hair and comb the locks. A clean life is a good life!
Ē tenebrīs Lēšnēnsibus, Iōannēs Āmos Comēnius
Tūre with frankincense suffīmus. we perfume. Faciem the face lavāmus we wash cotīdiē. daily. In in balneō the bath sudāmus. we sweat. Sudāriīs with napkins tergimus we wipe nōs. ourselves. Tōnsor a barber tondet cuts crīnēs. the hair. Pectit he combs comam the locks pectine. with a comb.
Tūre suffīmus — We perfume (suffīmus) with frankincense (tūre). Tūs, tūris (n.) is incense or frankincense, burned for its pleasant smell. Suffiō means “to fumigate, perfume” (from sub + a root meaning “smoke”).
Faciem lavāmus cotīdiē — We wash (lavāmus) the face (faciem) daily (cotīdiē). Cotīdiē (or quōtīdiē) is an adverb meaning “every day, daily.”
In balneō sudāmus — We sweat (sudāmus) in (in) the bath (balneō). The balneum (or balineum) was the Roman bath, a central institution of Roman life. Sūdō means “to sweat.”
Sudāriīs tergimus nōs — We wipe (tergimus) ourselves (nōs) with napkins (sudāriīs). Sudārium (from sūdor, sweat) is a cloth for wiping sweat — a napkin or handkerchief. Tergō means “to wipe, dry.”
Tōnsor tondet crīnēs. Pectit comam pectine — A barber (tōnsor) cuts (tondet) the hair (crīnēs). He combs (pectit) the locks (comam) with a comb (pectine). Note the related words: tōnsor (barber) from tondeō (to cut); pectine (with a comb) from pectō (to comb).
Tūre suffīmus. We perfume with frankincense.
Faciem lavāmus cotīdiē. We wash the face daily.
In balneō sudāmus. We sweat in the bath.
Sudāriīs tergimus nōs. We wipe ourselves with napkins.
Tōnsor tondet crīnēs. Pectit comam pectine. A barber cuts the hair. He combs the locks with a comb.
Tūre suffīmus. Faciem lavāmus cotīdiē. In balneō sudāmus. Sudāriīs tergimus nōs. Tōnsor tondet crīnēs. Pectit comam pectine.
Latin has several words for hair:
Vocābulum Significātiō crīnis, crīnis (m.) a single hair; (pl.) hair coma, -ae (f.) hair of the head (collective), locks capillus, -ī (m.) hair (of head or beard) pilus, -ī (m.) a hair (body hair)
Crīnēs (plural) typically means “hair” in general; coma emphasizes flowing locks.
Words derived from the same root:
Tondeō, tondēre, totondī, tōnsum — to cut, shear, clip:
Vocābulum Significātiō tondeō I cut (hair) tōnsor barber (one who cuts) tōnstrīna barber shop tōnsūra a cutting, tonsure
Pectō, pectere, pexī, pexum — to comb:
Vocābulum Significātiō pectō I comb pecten, pectinis (m.) comb
The balneum (bath) was central to Roman life. Public baths (thermae) had:
Pars Significātiō caldārium hot room tepidārium warm room frīgidārium cold room sudātōrium sweating room
The ablative of instrument continues:
Exemplum Significātiō tūre suffīmus we perfume with frankincense sudāriīs tergimus we wipe with napkins pectine pectit he combs with a comb
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō tūs, tūris (n.) nōmen frankincense, incense suffiō, suffīre, suffīvī, suffītum verbum to perfume, fumigate faciēs, faciēī (f.) nōmen face lavō, lavāre, lāvī, lautum verbum to wash cotīdiē adverbium daily balneum, -ī (n.) nōmen bath sūdō, sūdāre, sūdāvī, sūdātum verbum to sweat sudārium, -ī (n.) nōmen napkin, handkerchief tergō, tergēre, tersī, tersum verbum to wipe, dry tōnsor, tōnsōris (m.) nōmen barber tondeō, tondēre, totondī, tōnsum verbum to cut, shear (hair) crīnis, crīnis (m.) nōmen hair coma, -ae (f.) nōmen hair, locks pectō, pectere, pexī, pexum verbum to comb pecten, pectinis (m.) nōmen comb
In in urbe the city Rōmā of Rome tōnsor a barber quīdam certain erat was quī who semper always garriēbat. used to chatter. Dum while crīnēs the hair tondēbat, he was cutting, loquēbātur. he used to speak. Dum while comam the locks pectēbat, he was combing, loquēbātur. he used to speak. Dum while barbam the beard rādēbat, he was shaving, loquēbātur! he used to speak!
Clīentēs the clients eius his saepe often querebantur. used to complain. Dīcēbant they used to say sē themselves quiētem quiet velle to want — nōn — not sermōnēs! talk! Sed but tōnsor the barber tacēre to be silent nōn not poterat. was able. Dīcēbat he used to say silentium silence esse to be malum bad — colloquium — conversation esse to be bonum! good!
Ōlim one day philosophus a philosopher quīdam certain ad to tōnstrīnam the barber shop vēnit. came. Tōnsor the barber statim immediately loquī to speak coepit. began. Rogāvit he asked quōmodo how philosophus the philosopher comam his locks tondērī to be cut vellet. wanted.
Philosophus the philosopher respondit: answered: “Tacitē!” “silently!”
Tōnsor the barber rīsit laughed et and loquī to speak perrēxit. continued. Philosophus the philosopher nihil nothing dīxit said — sed — but oculōs his eyes clausit. closed. Tōnsor the barber adhūc still loquēbātur. was speaking. Philosophus the philosopher dormīre to sleep coepit! began!
Tandem at last tōnsor the barber opus the work fīnīvit. finished. Speculum a mirror ostendit. he showed. “Vidē,” “see,” inquit, he said, “quam “how pulchrē beautifully tōnsus cut sīs!” you are!”
Philosophus the philosopher speculum the mirror aspēxit. looked at. Tum then dīxit: he said: “Tōnsūra “the haircut bona good est. is. Sed but audīvistīne did you hear quid what dīxerim?” I said?”
Tōnsor the barber respondit: answered: “Nōn “not audiō do I hear dum while tondeō. I cut. Loquor I speak — ergō — therefore nōn not audiō!” I hear!”
Philosophus the philosopher rīsit. laughed. “Hoc,” “this,” inquit, he said, “est “is problema the problem multōrum of many hominum! people! Loquuntur they speak — ergō — therefore nōn not audiunt! they hear! Quī he who semper always loquitur, speaks, numquam never discit. learns. Quī he who tacet is silent et and audit, listens, sapiēns wise fit!” becomes!”
Tōnsor the barber tacuit. was silent. Prīmum for the first time in in vītā his life suā his tacuit! he was silent! Et and cōgitāre to think coepit. he began.
Haec this fābula fable docet: teaches: Duae two aurēs ears habēmus we have — sed — but ūnum one ōs! mouth! Ergō therefore duplex double audiendum, is it to be listened, simplex single loquendum! is it to be spoken! Quī he who tacet, is silent, audit. listens. Quī he who audit, listens, discit! learns!
In urbe Rōmā tōnsor quīdam erat quī semper garriēbat. In the city of Rome there was a certain barber who always used to chatter.
Dum crīnēs tondēbat, loquēbātur. Dum comam pectēbat, loquēbātur. Dum barbam rādēbat, loquēbātur! While he was cutting the hair, he used to speak. While he was combing the locks, he used to speak. While he was shaving the beard, he used to speak!
Clīentēs eius saepe querēbantur. Dīcēbant sē quiētem velle — nōn sermōnēs! His clients often used to complain. They used to say that they wanted quiet — not talk!
Sed tōnsor tacēre nōn poterat. Dīcēbat silentium esse malum — colloquium esse bonum! But the barber was not able to be silent. He used to say that silence was bad — conversation was good!
Ōlim philosophus quīdam ad tōnstrīnam vēnit. Tōnsor statim loquī coepit. One day a certain philosopher came to the barber shop. The barber immediately began to speak.
Rogāvit quōmodo philosophus comam tondērī vellet. He asked how the philosopher wanted his locks to be cut.
Philosophus respondit: “Tacitē!” The philosopher answered: “Silently!”
Tōnsor rīsit et loquī perrēxit. Philosophus nihil dīxit — sed oculōs clausit. The barber laughed and continued to speak. The philosopher said nothing — but closed his eyes.
Tōnsor adhūc loquēbātur. Philosophus dormīre coepit! The barber was still speaking. The philosopher began to sleep!
Tandem tōnsor opus fīnīvit. Speculum ostendit. At last the barber finished the work. He showed a mirror.
“Vidē,” inquit, “quam pulchrē tōnsus sīs!” “See,” he said, “how beautifully you are cut!”
Philosophus speculum aspēxit. Tum dīxit: “Tōnsūra bona est.” The philosopher looked at the mirror. Then he said: “The haircut is good.”
“Sed audīvistīne quid dīxerim?” “But did you hear what I said?”
Tōnsor respondit: “Nōn audiō dum tondeō. Loquor — ergō nōn audiō!” The barber answered: “I do not hear while I cut. I speak — therefore I do not hear!”
Philosophus rīsit. “Hoc,” inquit, “est problema multōrum hominum!” The philosopher laughed. “This,” he said, “is the problem of many people!”
“Loquuntur — ergō nōn audiunt! Quī semper loquitur, numquam discit.” “They speak — therefore they do not hear! He who always speaks, never learns.”
“Quī tacet et audit, sapiēns fit!” “He who is silent and listens, becomes wise!”
Tōnsor tacuit. Prīmum in vītā suā tacuit! Et cōgitāre coepit. The barber was silent. For the first time in his life he was silent! And he began to think.
Haec fābula docet: Duae aurēs habēmus — sed ūnum ōs! This fable teaches: We have two ears — but one mouth!
Ergō duplex audiendum, simplex loquendum! Therefore it is to be listened double, spoken single!
Quī tacet, audit. Quī audit, discit! He who is silent, listens. He who listens, learns!
In urbe Rōmā tōnsor quīdam erat quī semper garriēbat. Dum crīnēs tondēbat, loquēbātur. Dum comam pectēbat, loquēbātur. Dum barbam rādēbat, loquēbātur!
Clīentēs eius saepe querēbantur. Dīcēbant sē quiētem velle — nōn sermōnēs! Sed tōnsor tacēre nōn poterat. Dīcēbat silentium esse malum — colloquium esse bonum!
Ōlim philosophus quīdam ad tōnstrīnam vēnit. Tōnsor statim loquī coepit. Rogāvit quōmodo philosophus comam tondērī vellet. Philosophus respondit: “Tacitē!”
Tōnsor rīsit et loquī perrēxit. Philosophus nihil dīxit — sed oculōs clausit. Tōnsor adhūc loquēbātur. Philosophus dormīre coepit!
Tandem tōnsor opus fīnīvit. Speculum ostendit. “Vidē,” inquit, “quam pulchrē tōnsus sīs!” Philosophus speculum aspēxit. Tum dīxit: “Tōnsūra bona est. Sed audīvistīne quid dīxerim?”
Tōnsor respondit: “Nōn audiō dum tondeō. Loquor — ergō nōn audiō!”
Philosophus rīsit. “Hoc,” inquit, “est problema multōrum hominum! Loquuntur — ergō nōn audiunt! Quī semper loquitur, numquam discit. Quī tacet et audit, sapiēns fit!”
Tōnsor tacuit. Prīmum in vītā suā tacuit! Et cōgitāre coepit.
Haec fābula docet: Duae aurēs habēmus — sed ūnum ōs! Ergō duplex audiendum, simplex loquendum! Quī tacet, audit. Quī audit, discit!
Dē Argūmentō:
This fable plays on the ancient joke about talkative barbers. The philosopher’s witty one-word answer (Tacitē!) — “Silently!” — goes unheard. The moral about two ears and one mouth echoes the Stoic philosopher Epictetus.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Ōrātiō oblīqua: Dīcēbant sē quiētem velle — acc. + inf. -
Indirect question: quōmodo vellet, quid dīxerim -
Impersonal gerundive: audiendum, loquendum — “it is to be listened, spoken” -
Deponent queror: querēbantur — “they complained”
Vocabula Fābulae:
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō garriō, garrīre verbum to chatter barba, -ae (f.) nōmen beard rādō, rādere, rāsī, rāsum verbum to shave, scrape clīēns, clīentis (m.) nōmen client queror, querī, questus sum verbum (dep.) to complain quiēs, quiētis (f.) nōmen quiet, rest sermō, sermōnis (m.) nōmen talk, conversation silentium, -ī (n.) nōmen silence tōnstrīna, -ae (f.) nōmen barber shop tacitē adverbium silently pergō, pergere, perrēxī verbum to continue speculum, -ī (n.) nōmen mirror tōnsūra, -ae (f.) nōmen haircut, cutting auris, auris (f.) nōmen ear ōs, ōris (n.) nōmen mouth
DISCIPULUS: Magister, master, Rōmānī the Romans cotīdiē daily lavābant? used to wash?
MAGISTER: Ita so vērō! indeed! Balnea baths pūblica public erant were māximī of the greatest mōmentī importance Rōmānīs! to the Romans! Post after merīdiem midday cīvēs citizens ad to thermās the baths ībant. used to go. Ibi there exercēbant they used to exercise corpus, the body, lavābant, used to wash, sermōnēs conversations habēbant. used to have.
DISCIPULUS: Quid what in in thermīs the baths faciēbant? did they used to do?
MAGISTER: Prīmum first in into tepidārium the warm room intrābant they used to enter — locum — a place tepidum. warm. Deinde then in into caldārium the hot room — locum — a place calīdissimum! hottest! Ibi there sudābant they used to sweat et and sordēs the dirt ē from corpore the body dēpellēbant. used to drive out. Postrēmō finally in in frīgidārium the cold room sē themselves refrīgerābant! used to cool off!
DISCIPULUS: Et and oleō with oil ūnguēbantur? were they anointed?
MAGISTER: Ita! yes! Post after balneum, the bath, servī slaves oleō with oil dominōs their masters ūnguēbant. used to anoint. Tum then strigilī with a strigil oleum the oil et and sordēs the dirt abstergēbant. they used to wipe off. Corpus the body mundum clean et and ūnctum anointed erat was — parātum — prepared ad for cēnam! dinner!
DISCIPULUS: Pulchra beautiful vīta life erat! it was!
MAGISTER: Ita so — sed — but labōriōsa laborious quoque! also! Ante before thermās, the baths, labōrābant. they used to work. Post after thermās, the baths, cēnābant they used to dine et and quiēscēbant. rest. Labor work et and quiēs rest — hoc — this est is ratiō the system vītae of life bonae! good!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, Rōmānī cotīdiē lavābant? Master, did the Romans used to wash daily?
MAGISTER: Ita vērō! Balnea pūblica erant māximī mōmentī Rōmānīs! So indeed! Public baths were of the greatest importance to the Romans!
Post merīdiem cīvēs ad thermās ībant. Ibi exercēbant corpus, lavābant, sermōnēs habēbant. After midday citizens used to go to the baths. There they used to exercise the body, wash, have conversations.
DISCIPULUS: Quid in thermīs faciēbant? What did they used to do in the baths?
MAGISTER: Prīmum in tepidārium intrābant — locum tepidum. First they used to enter into the warm room — a warm place.
Deinde in caldārium — locum calīdissimum! Ibi sudābant et sordēs ē corpore dēpellēbant. Then into the hot room — the hottest place! There they used to sweat and drive out the dirt from the body.
Postrēmō in frīgidārium sē refrīgerābant! Finally in the cold room they used to cool themselves off!
DISCIPULUS: Et oleō ūnguēbantur? And were they anointed with oil?
MAGISTER: Ita! Post balneum, servī oleō dominōs ūnguēbant. Yes! After the bath, slaves used to anoint their masters with oil.
Tum strigilī oleum et sordēs abstergēbant. Corpus mundum et ūnctum erat — parātum ad cēnam! Then with a strigil they used to wipe off the oil and dirt. The body was clean and anointed — prepared for dinner!
DISCIPULUS: Pulchra vīta erat! It was a beautiful life!
MAGISTER: Ita — sed labōriōsa quoque! Ante thermās, labōrābant. Post thermās, cēnābant et quiēscēbant. Yes — but laborious also! Before the baths, they used to work. After the baths, they used to dine and rest.
Labor et quiēs — hoc est ratiō vītae bonae! Work and rest — this is the system of the good life!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, Rōmānī cotīdiē lavābant?
MAGISTER: Ita vērō! Balnea pūblica erant māximī mōmentī Rōmānīs! Post merīdiem cīvēs ad thermās ībant. Ibi exercēbant corpus, lavābant, sermōnēs habēbant.
DISCIPULUS: Quid in thermīs faciēbant?
MAGISTER: Prīmum in tepidārium intrābant — locum tepidum. Deinde in caldārium — locum calīdissimum! Ibi sudābant et sordēs ē corpore dēpellēbant. Postrēmō in frīgidārium sē refrīgerābant!
DISCIPULUS: Et oleō ūnguēbantur?
MAGISTER: Ita! Post balneum, servī oleō dominōs ūnguēbant. Tum strigilī oleum et sordēs abstergēbant. Corpus mundum et ūnctum erat — parātum ad cēnam!
DISCIPULUS: Pulchra vīta erat!
MAGISTER: Ita — sed labōriōsa quoque! Ante thermās, labōrābant. Post thermās, cēnābant et quiēscēbant. Labor et quiēs — hoc est ratiō vītae bonae!
Dē Argūmentō Paedagōgicō:
This colloquium describes the Roman bath routine: the progression from tepidarium (warm room) to caldarium (hot room) to frigidarium (cold room), followed by oiling and scraping with a strigil. It connects bathing to the Roman rhythm of labor and leisure.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Superlative calīdissimum: “hottest” -
Passive ūnguēbantur: “they were anointed” -
Reflexive sē refrīgerābant: “they cooled themselves”
Put in correct order (1-3):
___ frīgidārium (cold room) ___ caldārium (hot room) ___ tepidārium (warm room)
Match the verb with its related noun:
Verbum Nōmen 1. tondeō a. pecten 2. pectō b. sudārium 3. sūdō c. tōnsor
-
We perfume with frankincense. -
We wash the face daily. -
We sweat in the bath. -
A barber cuts the hair. -
He who is silent, listens.
-
Tūre suffīmus. Faciem lavāmus cotīdiē. -
In balneō sudāmus. Sudāriīs tergimus nōs. -
Tōnsor tondet crīnēs. Pectit comam pectine. -
Duae aurēs habēmus — sed ūnum ōs! -
Quī tacet, audit. Quī audit, discit!
Complete with the ablative: -
__________ suffīmus. (tūs) -
__________ tergimus nōs. (sudārium, pl.) -
Comam pectit __________. (pecten)
Memorize these sentences: -
Tūre suffīmus. Faciem lavāmus cotīdiē. We perfume with frankincense. We wash the face daily. -
In balneō sudāmus. Sudāriīs tergimus nōs. We sweat in the bath. We wipe ourselves with napkins. -
Tōnsor tondet crīnēs. Pectit comam pectine. A barber cuts the hair. He combs the locks with a comb. -
Duae aurēs habēmus — sed ūnum ōs! Ergō duplex audiendum, simplex loquendum! We have two ears — but one mouth! Therefore it is to be listened double, spoken single! -
Quī tacet, audit. Quī audit, discit! He who is silent, listens. He who listens, learns!
3 frīgidārium (last) 2 caldārium (second) 1 tepidārium (first)
-
c (tondeō → tōnsor) -
a (pectō → pecten) -
b (sūdō → sudārium)
-
Tūre suffīmus. -
Faciem cotīdiē lavāmus. -
In balneō sudāmus. -
Tōnsor crīnēs tondet. -
Quī tacet, audit.
-
We perfume with frankincense. We wash the face daily. -
We sweat in the bath. We wipe ourselves with napkins. -
A barber cuts the hair. He combs the locks with a comb. -
We have two ears — but one mouth! -
He who is silent, listens. He who listens, learns!
-
Tūre -
Sudāriīs -
pectine
In proximā lectiōne dē mundītiā domūs discēmus! Vidēbimus quōmodo maculae spongiā abstergantur, quōmodo quisquiliae scōpīs verrantur. Et dē vestīmentīs audiēmus — dē indusiō et tunicā, dē femoralibus et tibiālibus! Maculae absterguntur spongiā. Quisquiliae verruntur scōpīs. Indusium et tunicam, thorācem, femorālia, et tibiālia induimus et exuimus.
In the next lesson we shall learn about cleanliness of the house! We shall see how spots are wiped off with a sponge, how sweepings are swept with brooms. And we shall hear about clothing — about the shirt and tunic, about breeches and stockings! Spots are wiped off with a sponge. Sweepings are swept with brooms. We put on and take off the shirt and tunic, the doublet, breeches, and stockings.
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Comēniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
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