← Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
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118.1 Mīlitēs soldiers sub under arboribus trees castra camp pōnunt place
118.2 Aqua water sub under terrā earth fluit flows
118.3 Puer boy librum book sub under mēnsam table cēlāvit hid
118.4 Sub under monte mountain oppidulum small town stat stands
118.5 Agricola farmer sub under sōle sun ardentī burning labōrat works
118.6 Nautae sailors nāvem ship sub under pontēs bridges dūcunt lead
118.7 Sub under noctem night hostēs enemies urbem city petunt seek
118.8 Fēlēs cat sub under lectō bed latet hides
118.9 Rēx king sub under aureā golden coronā crown sēdet sits
118.10 Sub under Caesar Caesar multa many bella wars gesta were waged sunt were
118.11 Servī slaves vīnum wine sub under domum house portant carry
118.12 Sub under ipsīs very stellīs stars poētae poets carmina songs canunt sing
118.13 Mercātor merchant aurum gold sub under vestīmenta clothes abscondit conceals
118.14 Sub under prīmam first lūcem light avēs birds cantāre to sing incipiunt begin
118.15 Philosophus philosopher sub under porticu portico discipulīs to students docet teaches
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118.1 Mīlitēs sub arboribus castra pōnunt. The soldiers place their camp under the trees.
118.2 Aqua sub terrā fluit. Water flows under the earth.
118.3 Puer librum sub mēnsam cēlāvit. The boy hid the book under the table.
118.4 Sub monte oppidulum stat. A small town stands under the mountain.
118.5 Agricola sub sōle ardentī labōrat. The farmer works under the burning sun.
118.6 Nautae nāvem sub pontēs dūcunt. The sailors lead the ship under the bridges.
118.7 Sub noctem hostēs urbem petunt. Toward nightfall the enemies seek the city.
118.8 Fēlēs sub lectō latet. The cat hides under the bed.
118.9 Rēx sub aureā coronā sēdet. The king sits under a golden crown.
118.10 Sub Caesar multa bella gesta sunt. Under Caesar many wars were waged.
118.11 Servī vīnum sub domum portant. The slaves carry wine under the house.
118.12 Sub ipsīs stellīs poētae carmina canunt. Under the very stars the poets sing songs.
118.13 Mercātor aurum sub vestīmenta abscondit. The merchant conceals gold under his clothes.
118.14 Sub prīmam lūcem avēs cantāre incipiunt. Toward first light the birds begin to sing.
118.15 Philosophus sub porticu discipulīs docet. The philosopher teaches students under the portico.
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118.1 Mīlitēs sub arboribus castra pōnunt.
118.2 Aqua sub terrā fluit.
118.3 Puer librum sub mēnsam cēlāvit.
118.4 Sub monte oppidulum stat.
118.5 Agricola sub sōle ardentī labōrat.
118.6 Nautae nāvem sub pontēs dūcunt.
118.7 Sub noctem hostēs urbem petunt.
118.8 Fēlēs sub lectō latet.
118.9 Rēx sub aureā coronā sēdet.
118.10 Sub Caesar multa bella gesta sunt.
118.11 Servī vīnum sub domum portant.
118.12 Sub ipsīs stellīs poētae carmina canunt.
118.13 Mercātor aurum sub vestīmenta abscondit.
118.14 Sub prīmam lūcem avēs cantāre incipiunt.
118.15 Philosophus sub porticu discipulīs docet.
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For English speakers learning Latin, understanding "sub" requires attention to its dual case government and varied meanings:
1. Basic Forms and Cases: -
sub + accusative: motion toward, approach to a position under something -
sub + ablative: static position under, location beneath something
2. Case Usage Examples:
With Accusative (Motion): -
sub mēnsam: under the table (motion toward) Example: "Puer librum sub mēnsam cēlāvit" (The boy hid the book under the table) -
sub pontēs: under the bridges (motion through) Example: "Nautae nāvem sub pontēs dūcunt" (The sailors lead the ship under the bridges)
With Ablative (Location): -
sub arboribus: under the trees (static location) Example: "Mīlitēs sub arboribus castra pōnunt" (The soldiers place camp under the trees) -
sub monte: under the mountain (fixed position) Example: "Sub monte oppidulum stat" (A small town stands under the mountain)
3. Temporal Usage: -
sub + accusative for "toward" a time: "sub noctem" = toward nightfall "sub prīmam lūcem" = toward first light
4. Figurative Usage: -
sub + ablative for "under the rule/authority of": "Sub Caesar" = under Caesar's command
5. Word Order Flexibility: Sub can appear before or after its object, with position affecting emphasis: -
Initial position: "Sub monte oppidulum stat" -
Medial position: "Mīlitēs sub arboribus castra pōnunt"
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For English speakers, understanding "sub" requires awareness of Roman spatial and social concepts:
1. Architectural Context: Romans built extensively with vertical space considerations. "Sub" frequently described relationships in multi-story buildings, underground storage, and public spaces like porticoes where activities occurred "under" covered areas.
2. Military Usage: Roman military terminology used "sub" for tactical positions, temporary shelters under natural cover, and command structures. The phrase "sub + person's name" indicated military authority and chain of command.
3. Legal and Social Hierarchy: "Sub" expressed Roman concepts of authority, with social inferiors described as being "under" their superiors. This usage extends to legal contexts where individuals operated "under" specific laws or magistrates.
4. Religious and Philosophical Context: Sacred spaces often involved activities conducted "under" porticoes, temples, or natural features considered holy. Philosophers teaching "sub porticu" reflects the academic tradition of outdoor instruction in covered walkways.
5. Modern Connections: English words derived from Latin "sub" include "subway," "submarine," "subordinate," and "subterranean," all maintaining the core meaning of "under" or "beneath."
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From Caesar's De Bello Gallico (1.50.4):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Caesar Caesar proeliō from battle commīsō having been joined cum when suīs his own men resistere to resist nōn not possent they were able atque and aliī some fugā in flight salūtem safety petere to seek aliī others sub under carīs wagons sē themselves abdere to hide coepissent had begun ipse he himself nūdātō having been stripped capite head in into prīmam first aciem battle line prōcucurrit ran forward
Caesar proeliō commīsō cum suīs resistere nōn possent atque aliī fugā salūtem petere aliī sub carīs sē abdere coepissent, ipse nūdātō capite in prīmam aciem prōcucurrit.
When battle had been joined and his men were unable to resist, and some had begun to seek safety in flight while others to hide themselves under the wagons, Caesar himself with head uncovered ran forward into the front battle line.
Caesar uses "sub carīs" to emphasize the desperate situation of his soldiers seeking any available cover. The contrast between soldiers hiding "under wagons" and Caesar advancing "into the front line" heightens the dramatic effect and showcases Roman ideals of leadership by example.
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sub carīs: ablative of place where (under/among the wagons) -
sē abdere: reflexive infinitive construction -
coepissent: pluperfect subjunctive in temporal clause -
Complex sentence structure with multiple temporal and causal relationships -
Use of aliī... aliī construction for "some... others"
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118.16 Legiō legion nostra our sub under Alpium Alps iugīs ridges castra camp posuit placed
118.17 Hostēs enemies sub under noctem night vallum rampart nostrum our oppugnāre to attack temptāvērunt attempted
118.18 Sub under imperātōris commander auctōritāte authority cohortēs cohorts in into aciem battle line īnstrūctae were drawn up sunt were
118.19 Explōrātōrēs scouts nūntiāvērunt announced magnam large barbarōrum of barbarians multitūdinem multitude sub under collibus hills latēre to lie hidden
118.20 Aquilifer eagle-bearer aquilam eagle sub under hostium enemies tēlīs missiles dēfendit defended
118.21 Sub under ipsīs very moenibus walls oppidī of town mīlitēs soldiers scalās ladders applicuērunt applied
118.22 Centuriō centurion vulnerātus wounded sub under scūtīs shields commīlitōnum of fellow soldiers lātuit hid
118.23 Sub under prīmam first lūcem light signum signal pugnae of battle datum given est was
118.24 Equitēs cavalry Germānī German sub under silvās forests dēnsās dense fugērunt fled
118.25 Sub under hīs these temporibus times annōna grain supply in in castrīs camp dēficere to fail coepit began
118.26 Trāns across flūmen river pōns bridge sub under sagittāriōrum archers testūdine tortoise formation aedificātus built est was
118.27 Sub under vesperum evening hostium enemies ducēs leaders lēgātōs envoys dē about pāce peace mīsērunt sent
118.28 Mūnītiōnēs fortifications sub under decem ten diērum days spatiō space perfectae completed sunt were
118.29 Sub under Caesaris Caesar's imperiō command omnēs all cīvitātēs states Gallicae Gallic pācātae pacified sunt were
118.30 Lēgātus lieutenant sub under aestate summer ineunte beginning ad to Rōmam Rome regressus returned est was
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118.16 Legiō nostra sub Alpium iugīs castra posuit. Our legion placed camp under the ridges of the Alps.
118.17 Hostēs sub noctem vallum nostrum oppugnāre temptāvērunt. The enemies attempted to attack our rampart toward nightfall.
118.18 Sub imperātōris auctōritāte cohortēs in aciem īnstrūctae sunt. Under the commander's authority the cohorts were drawn up in battle line.
118.19 Explōrātōrēs nūntiāvērunt magnam barbarōrum multitūdinem sub collibus latēre. The scouts announced that a large multitude of barbarians was lying hidden under the hills.
118.20 Aquilifer aquilam sub hostium tēlīs dēfendit. The eagle-bearer defended the eagle under the enemies' missiles.
118.21 Sub ipsīs moenibus oppidī mīlitēs scalās applicuērunt. Under the very walls of the town the soldiers applied ladders.
118.22 Centuriō vulnerātus sub scūtīs commīlitōnum lātuit. The wounded centurion hid under his fellow soldiers' shields.
118.23 Sub prīmam lūcem signum pugnae datum est. Toward first light the signal for battle was given.
118.24 Equitēs Germānī sub silvās dēnsās fugērunt. The German cavalry fled under the dense forests.
118.25 Sub hīs temporibus annōna in castrīs dēficere coepit. During these times the grain supply began to fail in the camp.
118.26 Trāns flūmen pōns sub sagittāriōrum testūdine aedificātus est. Across the river a bridge was built under the archers' tortoise formation.
118.27 Sub vesperum hostium ducēs lēgātōs dē pāce mīsērunt. Toward evening the enemies' leaders sent envoys about peace.
118.28 Mūnītiōnēs sub decem diērum spatiō perfectae sunt. The fortifications were completed within the space of ten days.
118.29 Sub Caesaris imperiō omnēs cīvitātēs Gallicae pācātae sunt. Under Caesar's command all the Gallic states were pacified.
118.30 Lēgātus sub aestate ineunte ad Rōmam regressus est. The lieutenant returned to Rome at the beginning of summer.
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118.16 Legiō nostra sub Alpium iugīs castra posuit.
118.17 Hostēs sub noctem vallum nostrum oppugnāre temptāvērunt.
118.18 Sub imperātōris auctōritāte cohortēs in aciem īnstrūctae sunt.
118.19 Explōrātōrēs nūntiāvērunt magnam barbarōrum multitūdinem sub collibus latēre.
118.20 Aquilifer aquilam sub hostium tēlīs dēfendit.
118.21 Sub ipsīs moenibus oppidī mīlitēs scalās applicuērunt.
118.22 Centuriō vulnerātus sub scūtīs commīlitōnum lātuit.
118.23 Sub prīmam lūcem signum pugnae datum est.
118.24 Equitēs Germānī sub silvās dēnsās fugērunt.
118.25 Sub hīs temporibus annōna in castrīs dēficere coepit.
118.26 Trāns flūmen pōns sub sagittāriōrum testūdine aedificātus est.
118.27 Sub vesperum hostium ducēs lēgātōs dē pāce mīsērunt.
118.28 Mūnītiōnēs sub decem diērum spatiō perfectae sunt.
118.29 Sub Caesaris imperiō omnēs cīvitātēs Gallicae pācātae sunt.
118.30 Lēgātus sub aestate ineunte ad Rōmam regressus est.
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In military discourse, "sub" appears in specialized contexts that demonstrate its full range of meanings and grammatical functions:
1. Tactical and Strategic Positioning:
Physical Location (Ablative): -
sub Alpium iugīs: under the Alpine ridges (defensive position) -
sub collibus: under/among the hills (concealed position) -
sub silvās: under/into the forests (refuge)
Command Structure (Ablative): -
sub imperātōris auctōritāte: under the commander's authority -
sub Caesaris imperiō: under Caesar's command
2. Temporal Military Usage:
Approach to Time (Accusative): -
sub noctem: toward nightfall (timing of attacks) -
sub prīmam lūcem: toward first light (dawn operations) -
sub vesperum: toward evening (negotiation timing)
During Period (Ablative): -
sub hīs temporibus: during these times -
sub aestate ineunte: at the beginning of summer
3. Combat Situations:
Protection/Cover (Ablative): -
sub scūtīs: under shields (protective formation) -
sub hostium tēlīs: under enemy missiles (under fire) -
sub testūdine: under tortoise formation (siege protection)
Close Proximity (Accusative for approach): -
sub moenibus: up to/under the walls (assault position)
4. Complex Military Constructions:
Indirect Statement with sub: "Explōrātōrēs nūntiāvērunt... multitūdinem sub collibus latēre" -
latēre: present infinitive in indirect statement -
sub collibus: location where action occurs
Passive Voice in Official Reports: -
īnstrūctae sunt: were drawn up (perfect passive) -
datum est: was given (perfect passive) -
perfectae sunt: were completed (perfect passive)
5. Word Order in Military Latin:
Emphasis on Authority: "Sub imperātōris auctōritāte cohortēs in aciem īnstrūctae sunt" -
sub phrase at beginning emphasizes command structure
Emphasis on Action: "Centuriō vulnerātus sub scūtīs commīlitōnum lātuit" -
sub phrase in middle, focusing on the protective action
These examples show how "sub" functions in formal military reporting, combining literal spatial meanings with metaphorical expressions of authority and temporal relationships crucial to Roman military documentation.
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