Lesson 28

Introduction

This lesson introduces the preposition "per" meaning "through", which takes the accusative case. We'll explore its literal and metaphorical uses in Latin.

Part A (Interleaved Text)

28.1 nūntius messenger per through urbem city currit runs

28.2 exercitus army per through silvam forest iter journey facit makes

28.3 aqua water per through agrōs fields fluit flows

28.4 servī slaves per through forum forum ambulant walk

28.5 ventus wind per through arbōrēs trees flat blows

28.6 per through hortum garden ambulat walks

28.7 lūx light per through fenestrās windows lūcet shines

28.8 mīlitēs soldiers per through portam gate gradiuntur march

28.9 avēs birds per through caelum sky volant fly

28.10 ignis fire per through aedificium building serpit spreads

28.11 vōx voice per through templum temple resonat echoes

28.12 fūmus smoke per through tēctum roof surgit rises

28.13 flūmen river per through vallem valley fluit flows

28.14 rēgīna queen per through rēgiam palace ambulat walks

28.15 vir man per through montēs mountains iter journey facit makes

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Part B (Complete Sentences)

28.1 Nūntius per urbem currit. The messenger runs through the city.

28.2 Exercitus per silvam iter facit. The army marches through the forest.

28.3 Aqua per agrōs fluit. The water flows through the fields.

28.4 Servī per forum ambulant. The slaves walk through the forum.

28.5 Ventus per arbōrēs flat. The wind blows through the trees.

28.6 Per hortum ambulat. She walks through the garden.

28.7 Lūx per fenestrās lūcet. The light shines through the windows.

28.8 Mīlitēs per portam gradiuntur. The soldiers march through the gate.

28.9 Avēs per caelum volant. The birds fly through the sky.

28.10 Ignis per aedificium serpit. The fire spreads through the building.

28.11 Vōx per templum resonat. The voice echoes through the temple.

28.12 Fūmus per tēctum surgit. The smoke rises through the roof.

28.13 Flūmen per vallem fluit. The river flows through the valley.

28.14 Rēgīna per rēgiam ambulat. The queen walks through the palace.

28.15 Vir per montēs iter facit. The man travels through the mountains.

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Part C (Latin Only)

28.1 Nūntius per urbem currit.

28.2 Exercitus per silvam iter facit.

28.3 Aqua per agrōs fluit.

28.4 Servī per forum ambulant.

28.5 Ventus per arbōrēs flat.

28.6 Per hortum ambulat.

28.7 Lūx per fenestrās lūcet.

28.8 Mīlitēs per portam gradiuntur.

28.9 Avēs per caelum volant.

28.10 Ignis per aedificium serpit.

28.11 Vōx per templum resonat.

28.12 Fūmus per tēctum surgit.

28.13 Flūmen per vallem fluit.

28.14 Rēgīna per rēgiam ambulat.

28.15 Vir per montēs iter facit.

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Part D (Grammar Explanation)

For English speakers learning Latin, the preposition "per" requires understanding several key points: -

Basic Usage: -

Always takes the accusative case -

Indicates movement through space or time -

The noun following "per" must be in accusative case -

Case Requirements: Examples of accusative forms: -

First declension: silva → per silvam -

Second declension: hortus → per hortum -

Third declension: urbs → per urbem -

Word Order: -

"Per" typically comes directly before its object -

Can be separated for emphasis -

More flexible than English "through" -

Common Combinations: -

With verbs of motion (ambulāre, currere) -

With nouns indicating spaces or openings -

With abstract concepts when used metaphorically -

Key Differences from English: -

Cannot be used as an adverb like English "through" -

Always requires an object -

More limited in metaphorical uses

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Part E (Cultural Context)

For English speakers, understanding "per" requires cultural context: -

Roman Architecture: -

Cities had defined pathways -

Buildings had specific entrance and exit points -

Public spaces were carefully planned -

Roman Movement: -

Travel through territories was important -

Military movements were precisely described -

Urban navigation was highly structured -

Historical Perspective: -

Romans were master road builders -

Path and direction were crucial in Roman life -

Movement through space was carefully recorded -

Modern Parallels: -

Similar to English "through" in physical movement -

Different in abstract uses -

Important in understanding Roman spatial concepts

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Part F (Literary Citation)

Part F-A (Interleaved Text)

Part F-A (Interleaved Text)

From Vergil's Aeneid (Book 2, line 360):

Ibimus we shall go per through mediam middle urbem city

Part F-B (Complete Translation)

Ibimus per mediam urbem. We shall go through the middle of the city.

Part F-C (Literary Analysis)

This line comes at a dramatic moment when Aeneas and his companions are preparing to move through Troy as it falls. The phrase uses "per" to emphasize their physical movement through the dangerous city streets.

Part F-D (Grammatical Notes)

-

"per" takes accusative "urbem" -

"mediam" is accusative feminine singular agreeing with "urbem" -

"ibimus" is future tense of "eo" (to go)

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Genre Section: Travel Writing

Part A (Interleaved Text)

28.16 viātor traveler per through Italiam Italy iter journey facit makes

28.17 per through multās many terrās lands ambulāvimus we walked

28.18 mercātor merchant per through Āsiam Asia nāvigat sails

28.19 legiōnēs legions per through Galliam Gaul iter journey faciunt make

28.20 nāvis ship per through mare sea nōstrum our nāvigat sails

28.21 per through altās high Alpēs Alps difficulter with difficulty iter journey faciunt they make

28.22 equitēs horsemen per through campōs plains lātōs wide equitant ride

28.23 peregrīnus foreigner per through urbēs cities Graecās Greek ambulat walks

28.24 per through dēserta deserts Āfricae of Africa camēlī camels ambulant walk

28.25 nautae sailors per through fretum strait angustum narrow nāvigant sail

28.26 explōrātōrēs explorers per through silvās forests densās thick iter journey faciunt make

28.27 elephantī elephants per through flūmina rivers magna great nātant swim

28.28 per through vallēs valleys profundās deep fluit flows flūmen river

28.29 mercātōrēs merchants per through viam road sericam silk iter journey faciunt make

28.30 nūntius messenger per through provinciās provinces properē quickly currit runs

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Part B (Complete Sentences)

28.16 Viātor per Italiam iter facit. The traveler journeys through Italy.

28.17 Per multās terrās ambulāvimus. We walked through many lands.

28.18 Mercātor per Āsiam nāvigat. The merchant sails through Asia.

28.19 Legiōnēs per Galliam iter faciunt. The legions march through Gaul.

28.20 Nāvis per mare nōstrum nāvigat. The ship sails through our sea.

28.21 Per altās Alpēs difficulter iter faciunt. They journey with difficulty through the high Alps.

28.22 Equitēs per campōs lātōs equitant. The horsemen ride through the wide plains.

28.23 Peregrīnus per urbēs Graecās ambulat. The foreigner walks through Greek cities.

28.24 Per dēserta Āfricae camēlī ambulant. Camels walk through the deserts of Africa.

28.25 Nautae per fretum angustum nāvigant. The sailors sail through the narrow strait.

28.26 Explōrātōrēs per silvās densās iter faciunt. The explorers journey through thick forests.

28.27 Elephantī per flūmina magna nātant. Elephants swim through great rivers.

28.28 Per vallēs profundās fluit flūmen. The river flows through deep valleys.

28.29 Mercātōrēs per viam sericam iter faciunt. The merchants journey through the silk road.

28.30 Nūntius per provinciās properē currit. The messenger runs quickly through the provinces.

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Part C (Latin Only)

28.16 Viātor per Italiam iter facit.

28.17 Per multās terrās ambulāvimus.

28.18 Mercātor per Āsiam nāvigat.

28.19 Legiōnēs per Galliam iter faciunt.

28.20 Nāvis per mare nōstrum nāvigat.

28.21 Per altās Alpēs difficulter iter faciunt.

28.22 Equitēs per campōs lātōs equitant.

28.23 Peregrīnus per urbēs Graecās ambulat.

28.24 Per dēserta Āfricae camēlī ambulant.

28.25 Nautae per fretum angustum nāvigant.

28.26 Explōrātōrēs per silvās densās iter faciunt.

28.27 Elephantī per flūmina magna nātant.

28.28 Per vallēs profundās fluit flūmen.

28.29 Mercātōrēs per viam sericam iter faciunt.

28.30 Nūntius per provinciās properē currit.

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Part D (Grammar Explanation for Travel Writing)

The travel writing genre demonstrates special uses of "per" that English speakers should note: -

Geographic Terms with Per: -

Place names follow "per" in accusative case: -

per Italiam (through Italy) -

per Āsiam (through Asia) -

per Galliam (through Gaul) -

Geographic features also take accusative: -

per Alpēs (through the Alps) -

per dēserta (through deserts) -

per mare (through the sea) -

Common Travel Verbs Used with Per: -

iter facere (to make a journey) -

ambulāre (to walk) -

nāvigāre (to sail) -

equitāre (to ride) -

currere (to run) -

nātāre (to swim) -

Adjective Placement: -

Adjectives can come before or after the noun they modify: -

per altās Alpēs (through the high Alps) -

per vallēs profundās (through deep valleys) -

Size and quality adjectives are common in travel descriptions: -

lātus (wide) -

magnus (great) -

angustus (narrow) -

densus (thick) -

Special Travel Vocabulary: -

viātor (traveler) -

mercātor (merchant) -

peregrīnus (foreigner) -

explōrātor (explorer) -

via serica (silk road) -

Time and Manner: -

Adverbs can modify the journey: -

difficulter (with difficulty) -

properē (quickly) -

Perfect tense for completed journeys: -

ambulāvimus (we walked) -

Present tense for ongoing travel: -

nāvigant (they sail) -

Cultural Notes for English Speakers: -

Roman geographic terms often differ from modern ones -

Mare nostrum ("our sea") = Mediterranean -

Ancient travel routes often followed different paths than modern ones -

Roman provinces had specific boundaries different from modern countries

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