Ludi Novi Romani/MMDCCLXXI/Ipse Dixit Quiz - The 20th Anniversary Edition

Revision as of 11:54, 11 March 2018

IPSE DIXIT: 20th Anniversary Edition

Publius Annæus Constantinus Placidus omnis civibus, perigrinibusque bonæ voluntatis salutem plurimam dicit.

I am proud and happy to present, to all of you, Quirites and guests, a very special 20th Anniversary Edition of my long-running quiz based on famous quotations and sentences in Latin, from all times where our ancestors' noble language was used - from Ancient Rome to the Middle Ages to right now, because, believe it or not, someone still writes in Latin!

This edition will consist of six items, each one with its own series of questions. All items will be posted regularily here after they appear on the Nova Roma Main List and on the Forum Hospitum. After the conclusion of the Ludi (March 15th), this page shall be updated with all of the solutions.

Item I: MANVS MANVM LAVAT

1. What is the LITERAL translation of this sentence into English? (2 points)

2. Who wrote this? (2 points)

3. What famous Italian writer, from the Romantic era, used the same sentence in a work of his, and extended it? (3 points)

4. Can you explain the meaning of the sentence in your own words? (2 points)

Item II: GLADIATOR IN ARENA CONSILIVM CAPIT

1. What is the LITERAL translation of this sentence into English? (2 points)

2. Who wrote this? (2 points)

3. Can you please explain in your own words the meaning of the sentence? (3 points)

Item III: VELUT LVNA, STATV VARIABILIS; SEMPER CRESCIS AVT DECRESCIS.

Questions: 1. What is the literal English translation of this sentence? (2 points).

2. The first line of the poem from which this quote is taken was intentionally omitted. Who or what does the quote refer to? (1 point)

3. What is the full title of the poem, and what does the title mean? (2 points)

4. What is the title of the collection that the poem is taken from? (1 point)

5. What is the actual date in which the collection was made? (1 point)

6. What German contemporary composer wrote an extremely popular musical adaption of the poem? (1 point)

7. Can you please explain, in your own words, the meaning of the entire poem? (3 points)

ITEM IV: TERRA AVTEM ERAT INANIS ET VACVA, ET TENEBRÆ ERANT SVPER FACIEM ABYSSI. [...] DIXITQVE DEVS: FIAT LVX. ET FACTA EST LVX.

1. What is the LITERAL translation of these sentences into English? (2 points).

2. What is the name of the specific section (generally referred to as a 'book') of a larger book, from which these sentences are taken? (1 point)

3. The (complete) book which includes the sentences is usually called Versio Vulgata. What does this mean? (1 point)

4. Who wrote most of Versio Vulgata, revising it from an earlier version, and when did he begin writing it? (1+1 points)

5. Can you please explain, in your own words, how and/or when the phrase "Fiat lux", or its English equivalent, is used today? (3 points)

ITEM V: GRÆCIA CAPTA FERVM VICTOREM CEPIT

1. What is the literal translation of this sentence into English? (2 points)

2. Who wrote it? (1 point)

3. Can you please explain the meaning of this sentence in your own words? (3 points)