← Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
73.1 Magna large domus house in in collē hill stat stands
73.2 Pater father familiam family in into novam new domum house dūcit leads
73.3 Servī slaves domūs of house hortum garden cūrant tend
73.4 Ad to domum house meam my vēnit comes amīcus friend
73.5 Domū from home māne in morning exiit went out mercātor merchant
73.6 Ante before domum house multae many flōrēs flowers crēscunt grow
73.7 Domī at home puerī boys cum with patre father manent remain
73.8 Dominī master's domum house servus slave aedificat builds
73.9 Ex from domō house clāmōrēs shouts audīvimus we heard
73.10 Domum homeward sub near noctem night properāmus we hurry
73.11 Hostēs enemies omnēs all domūs houses incendērunt burned
73.12 Domī at home senex old man librōs books legēbat was reading
73.13 Sine without domō house nēmō no one vīvere to live potest is able
73.14 Domum house pulchram beautiful aedificāre to build cupit desires
73.15 Per through domūs houses fenestram window lūx light intrat enters
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73.1 Magna domus in colle stat. A large house stands on the hill.
73.2 Pater familiam in novam domum dūcit. Father leads the family into the new house.
73.3 Servī domūs hortum cūrant. The slaves of the house tend the garden.
73.4 Ad domum meam amīcus vēnit. A friend comes to my house.
73.5 Domū māne mercātor exiit. The merchant went out from home in the morning.
73.6 Ante domum multae flōrēs crēscunt. Many flowers grow before the house.
73.7 Domī puerī cum patre manent. The boys remain at home with their father.
73.8 Dominī domum servus aedificat. The slave builds the master's house.
73.9 Ex domō clāmōrēs audīvimus. We heard shouts from the house.
73.10 Domum sub noctem properāmus. We hurry home near nightfall.
73.11 Hostēs omnēs domūs incendērunt. The enemies burned all the houses.
73.12 Domī senex librōs legēbat. At home, the old man was reading books.
73.13 Sine domō nēmō vīvere potest. No one can live without a house.
73.14 Domum pulchram aedificāre cupit. He desires to build a beautiful house.
73.15 Per domūs fenestram lūx intrat. Light enters through the house's window.
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73.1 Magna domus in colle stat.
73.2 Pater familiam in novam domum dūcit.
73.3 Servī domūs hortum cūrant.
73.4 Ad domum meam amīcus vēnit.
73.5 Domū māne mercātor exiit.
73.6 Ante domum multae flōrēs crēscunt.
73.7 Domī puerī cum patre manent.
73.8 Dominī domum servus aedificat.
73.9 Ex domō clāmōrēs audīvimus.
73.10 Domum sub noctem properāmus.
73.11 Hostēs omnēs domūs incendērunt.
73.12 Domī senex librōs legēbat.
73.13 Sine domō nēmō vīvere potest.
73.14 Domum pulchram aedificāre cupit.
73.15 Per domūs fenestram lūx intrat.
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"Domus" is a fascinating word for English speakers because it follows a unique pattern of declension, mixing forms from both the 2nd and 4th declensions. Here's what you need to know: -
Basic Forms: -
Nominative singular: domus -
Genitive singular: domūs (4th) or domī (2nd) -
Dative singular: domuī or domō -
Accusative singular: domum -
Ablative singular: domō or domū -
Locative singular: domī -
Special Uses: -
Locative domī = "at home" -
Accusative domum = "homeward" (without preposition) -
Ablative domō = "from home" (without preposition) -
Important Patterns: -
With prepositions: -
in domō = "in the house" -
ad domum = "to the house" -
ex domō = "out of the house" -
Common Phrases: -
domī bellīque = "in peace and war" -
domī meae = "in my house" -
domum redīre = "to return home"
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For English speakers, understanding "domus" requires cultural context about Roman houses: -
Physical Structure: -
Built around central atrium -
Open courtyard (impluvium) -
Rooms arranged peripherally -
Often two stories -
Social Significance: -
Center of family life -
Location for client meetings -
Symbol of social status -
Religious significance (household gods) -
Urban Context: -
Different from villa (country house) -
Often shared walls with neighbors -
Street-facing shops common -
Limited window openings -
Modern Relevance: -
Source of English "domestic" -
Influences modern architecture -
Model for courtyard homes -
Cultural ideal of home life
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From Pliny's Letters (2.17.1-2):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Quaeris you ask an whether commodē comfortably in in Tuscīs Tuscan lands possideam I possess Visum seen est it is mihi to me satis enough amplam spacious commodamque and convenient domum house habēre to have quae which impēnsae expense custōdiaeque and upkeep nōn not magnae great sit would be
"Quaeris an commodē in Tuscīs possideam. Visum est mihi satis amplam commodamque domum habēre quae impēnsae custōdiaeque nōn magnae sit."
You ask whether I am comfortably settled in Tuscany. It seemed to me sufficient to have a house that is spacious and convenient enough, yet not demanding great expense and maintenance.
Pliny discusses his Tuscan villa, emphasizing practical considerations of size and maintenance. The passage shows how Romans viewed their country houses as both status symbols and practical investments.
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Indirect question with "an" -
Subjunctive "sit" in relative clause -
Use of "-que" enclitic -
Position of "domum" for emphasis
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Here's a breakdown of these sentences about Roman houses (domus):
| # | Latin | English | |---|-------|---------| | 73.16 | Antīqua domus nostra in monte stat | Our ancient house stands on the mountain | | 73.17 | Per multās domūs portās ambulāmus | We walk through the doors of many houses | | 73.18 | In domō meā multae statuae sunt | In my house there are many statues | | 73.19 | Pater domūs pecūniam in tablīnō servat | The father of the house keeps money in the study | | 73.20 | Māter domum novīs flōribus ornat | The mother decorates the house with new flowers | | 73.21 | Domī avus nepōtibus fābulās narrat | At home the grandfather tells stories to his grandchildren | | 73.22 | Ad domūs vestibulum hospitēs veniunt | Guests come to the entrance of the house | | 73.23 | Ex omnibus domibus fūmus ascendit | Smoke rises from all the houses | | 73.24 | In domūs hortō rosae pulchrae flōrent | Beautiful roses bloom in the house's garden | | 73.25 | Sub domūs tēctō avēs nīdōs faciunt | Birds make nests under the roof of the house | | 73.26 | Servī per domum celeriter currunt | Slaves run quickly through the house | | 73.27 | Ante domūs iānuam canis dormit | A dog sleeps before the door of the house | | 73.28 | Domum veterem novā pictūrā ornāmus | We decorate the old house with new painting | | 73.29 | In domūs culīnā servae cēnam parant | In the house's kitchen, female slaves prepare dinner | | 73.30 | Post domum magnum vīrīdārium vidēmus | We see a large garden behind the house |
Key vocabulary: domus (house), tablīnum (study), vestibulum (entrance hall), culīna (kitchen), hortus (garden), vīrīdārium (ornamental garden)
73.19 Pater domūs pecūniam in tablīnō servat. The father of the house keeps money in the study.
73.20 Māter domum novīs flōribus ornat. Mother decorates the house with new flowers.
73.21 Domī avus nepōtibus fābulās narrat. At home, grandfather tells stories to his grandchildren.
73.22 Ad domūs vestibulum hospitēs veniunt. Guests come to the house's entrance.
73.23 Ex omnibus domibus fūmus ascendit. Smoke rises from all the houses.
73.24 In domūs hortō rosae pulchrae flōrent. Beautiful roses bloom in the house's garden.
73.25 Sub domūs tēctō avēs nīdōs faciunt. Birds make nests under the house's roof.
73.26 Servī per domum celeriter currunt. Slaves run quickly through the house.
73.27 Ante domūs iānuam canis dormit. A dog sleeps before the house's door.
73.28 Domum veterem novā pictūrā ornāmus. We decorate the old house with a new painting.
73.29 In domūs culīnā servae cēnam parant. In the house's kitchen, the female slaves prepare dinner.
73.30 Post domum magnum vīrīdārium vidēmus. Behind the house we see a large garden.
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73.16 Antīqua domus nostra in monte stat.
73.17 Per multās domūs portās ambulāmus.
73.18 In domō meā multae statuae sunt.
73.19 Pater domūs pecūniam in tablīnō servat.
73.20 Māter domum novīs flōribus ornat.
73.21 Domī avus nepōtibus fābulās narrat.
73.22 Ad domūs vestibulum hospitēs veniunt.
73.23 Ex omnibus domibus fūmus ascendit.
73.24 In domūs hortō rosae pulchrae flōrent.
73.25 Sub domūs tēctō avēs nīdōs faciunt.
73.26 Servī per domum celeriter currunt.
73.27 Ante domūs iānuam canis dormit.
73.28 Domum veterem novā pictūrā ornāmus.
73.29 In domūs culīnā servae cēnam parant.
73.30 Post domum magnum vīrīdārium vidēmus.
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The descriptive narrative about a Roman house demonstrates several important grammatical features: -
Prepositional Phrases with domus: -
in monte (location where) -
per domūs (movement through) -
in domō (location within) -
post domum (location behind) -
Genitive Constructions: -
domūs pecūniam (possession) -
domūs vestibulum (belonging) -
domūs hortō (possession) -
domūs tēctō (possession) These show how the genitive case is used to indicate ownership or belonging. -
Adjectival Agreement: -
antīqua domus (feminine nominative) -
multās domūs (feminine accusative plural) -
veterem domum (feminine accusative singular) Shows how adjectives agree with domus in gender, number, and case. -
Locative Uses: -
domī (at home) - special locative form This demonstrates the special locative case usage with domus. -
Varied Word Order: -
Beginning: "Antīqua domus nostra in monte stat" -
Middle: "Per multās domūs portās ambulāmus" -
End: "Post domum magnum vīrīdārium vidēmus" Shows natural Latin word order variations for emphasis and style. -
Case Usage: -
Nominative: domus (subject) -
Accusative: domum (direct object) -
Genitive: domūs (possession) -
Ablative: domō (location) Demonstrates the full range of case uses with domus. -
Compound Constructions: -
domūs vestibulum (compound noun phrase) -
novā pictūrā (instrumental ablative) Shows how domus combines with other nouns and modifiers.
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73.16 Antīqua ancient domus house nostra our in on monte mountain stat stands
73.17 Per through multās many domūs houses portās doors ambulāmus we walk
73.18 In in domō house meā my multae many statuae statues sunt are
73.19 Pater father domūs of house pecūniam money in in tablīnō study servat keeps
73.20 Māter mother domum house novīs with new flōribus flowers ornat decorates
73.21 Domī at home avus grandfather nepōtibus to grandchildren fābulās stories narrat tells
73.22 Ad to domūs house vestibulum entrance hospitēs guests veniunt come
73.23 Ex from omnibus all domibus houses fūmus smoke ascendit rises
73.24 In in domūs of house hortō garden rosae roses pulchrae beautiful flōrent bloom
73.25 Sub under domūs house tēctō roof avēs birds nīdōs nests faciunt make
73.26 Servī slaves per through domum house celeriter quickly currunt run
73.27 Ante before domūs house iānuam door canis dog dormit sleeps
73.28 Domum house veterem old novā with new pictūrā painting ornāmus we decorate
73.29 In in domūs house culīnā kitchen servae female slaves cēnam dinner parant prepare
73.30 Post behind domum house magnum large vīrīdārium garden vidēmus we see
MARCELLUS: Hello, friend Cornelius! Why do you stand before the door?
CORNELIUS: Oh Marcellus, best friend! I contemplate this threshold, for it offers me a philosophical question.
MARCELLUS: How can a door offer you a philosophical question?
CORNELIUS: Don't you see? Every door divides two things: that which is within and that which is without.
MARCELLUS: Indeed! But what does this mean?
CORNELIUS: Think! Isn't our life full of doors? Some we open, others we close.
MARCELLUS: Now I understand. You speak of metaphorical doors.
MARCELLUS: Salvē, amīce Cornēlī! Quid ante iānuam stās?
CORNELIUS: Ō Marcelle, optimē amīce! Contemplor hoc līmen, nam philosophicam quaestionem mihi praebet.
MARCELLUS: Quōmodo iānua philosophicam quaestionem tibi praebēre potest?
CORNELIUS: Nōnne vidēs? Omnis iānua duās rēs dīvidit: id quod intrā est et id quod extrā est.
MARCELLUS: Profectō! Sed quid hoc sibi vult?
CORNELIUS: Cōgitā! Nōnne vīta nostra plēna est iānuīs? Aliās aperīmus, aliās claudimus.
MARCELLUS: Iam intellegō. Dē iānuīs metaphoricīs loqueris.
This dialogue employs several classical rhetorical devices and philosophical concepts: -
Structure: -
Uses the traditional dialogue format favored by Erasmus -
Alternates between concrete and abstract concepts -
Builds from literal to metaphorical understanding -
Key Philosophical Elements: -
Explores the nature of boundaries and division -
Contemplates the relationship between interior and exterior -
Examines choice and consequence through the metaphor of doors -
Rhetorical Devices: -
Socratic questioning technique -
Use of anaphora ("aliās... aliās") -
Employment of rhetorical questions ("Nōnne vidēs?") -
Grammar Features: -
Present tense for immediacy of dialogue -
Mix of indicative and subjunctive moods -
Strategic use of demonstrative pronouns -
Vocative case for direct address
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