Topic / Level 4; clothing [22] the ‘patterns’ of Roman clothes: -ārium; -ārius; -eus; -fex; -tor; -trīx; -tus
At this Level 4 stage, all that is done here is to remind you of a number of key points regarding Latin vocabulary and review certain endings.
Latin is a language of patterns. As the image below shows, the root is aurum (gold). However, recognition of key endings which convey very specific meanings avoids vocabulary lists becoming overwhelming:
[1] -ārius
[i] a person who, in some way, works with the material referred to in the root
aurārius, -ī [2/m]: a goldsmith; a worker in gold
[ii] a relational adjective
aurārius, -a, -um: of / pertaining to gold, i.e. it does not say *made of gold* or *golden / the colour of gold*, but describes the noun as having something to do with gold. Pliny the Elder, for example, refers to metalla aurāria: gold mines
Compare:
vestis, -is [3/f]: an item of clothing; clothes
[i] vestiārius, -ī [2/m]: a clothes dealer
[ii] arca vestiāria: a clothes chest
argentum, -ī [2/n]: silver
[i] argentārius, -ī [2/m]: [i] worker in silver; [ii] banker, money changer
[ii] metalla argentāria: silver mines
[2] -tor [m], -trīx [f]
agent nouns from verbs, i.e. they refer to the person performing the action contained in the root
suō, -ere [3]: sew > sūtor, -ōris [3/m]: shoemaker; cobbler
ornō, -āre [1]: decorate; adorn > ornātrīx, -īcis [3/f]: hairdresser (female)
[3] -fex
the maker / producer of something:
aurum, -ī [2/n]: gold + -fex > aurifex, aurificis [3/m]: goldsmith; synonym: aurārius, -ī [2/m]
[4] -eus
the material from which something is made, or its colour
aureus, -a, -um: golden; (made) of gold
argenteus, -a, -um: (made) of silver
[5] -tus
This ending can be:
[i] a perfect passive participle formed from a verb
aurō, -aurāre, aurāvī, aurātus [1]: gild; overlay with gold > aurātus, -a, -um: (having been) gilded; covered / decorated with gold; gold-coloured
[ii] an adjective that, in this topic, refers to, for example, being dressed in / wearing an item of clothing or a garment of a particular colour
petasus, -ī [2/m]: (travelling) hat > petasātus, -a, -um: wearing a (travelling) hat
solea, -ae [1/f]: sandal > soleātus, -a, -um: wearing sandals
tunica, -ae [1/f]: tunic > tunicātus, -a, -um: dressed in / wearing a tunic
candidus, -a, -um: (shining) white > candidātus, -a, -um: dressed in shining white
[iii] -tus may also refer to a 4th declension noun i.e. its nominative form may look identical to a perfect passive participle:
Compare:
amiciō, -īre, amicuī, amictus [4]: clothe; cover
amictus, -a, -um: (having been) clothed; covered
amictus, -ūs [4/m]: clothing
vestiō, -īre, -īvī / -iī, vestītus [4]: clothe; dress
vestītus, -a, -um: (having been) dressed
vestitus, -ūs [4/m]: clothing
Latin, far more than English, can use adjectives and perfect passive participles as nouns, for example:
toga, -ae [1/f]: toga
togātus, -a, -um: dressed in a toga
togātus, -ī [2/m]: person dressed in / wearing a toga
Latin is an economical language and can very often convey an idea with a single word which, in English, may require an expanded phrase. This author, for example, refers to a person being:
tunicātus, sine palliō, soleātus (Publius Rutilius Lupus)
dressed in a tunic, without a cloak, wearing sandals
We could possibly say “sandalled”, although it sounds rather clumsy, but we would certainly not say *tuniced*!
[6] -ārium
Although the ending does not feature prominently in the topic, one of its uses is to refer where items are stored, or the purpose for which the item is used for example:
arma, -ōrum [2/n/pl]: weapons; tools > armārium, -ī [2/n]: cupboard, chest etc. for clothing, money
argentum, -ī [2/n]: silver > argentārium, -ī [2/n]: a place for keeping silver
sūdor, -ōris [3/m]: sweat; moisture > sūdārium [2/n]: a cloth for wiping off sweat; handkerchief
vestis, -is [3/f]: an item of clothing; clothes > vestiārium, -ī [2/n]: wardrobe
[7] Note the frequency of 1st conjugation verbs formed from the root nouns; these mainly refer to (1) providing the direct object with the root noun, or (2) giving the direct object the characteristic of the root noun:
arma (weapons) + -ō > armō, -āre [1]: furnish with weapons; arm; equip
aurum (gold) + -ō > aurō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: gild; overlay with gold
calceus (shoe) > calceō, -āre [1]: furnish with shoes; put on shoes; shoe (e.g. a horse) > dēcalceō, -āre [1]: take off shoes
fibula (clasp) > fibulō, -āre [1]: fasten with a clasp
gemma (gem; jewel) > gemmō, -āre [1]: to be adorned with precious stones, to sparkle with gems
purpura (the colour purple) > purpurō, -āre [1]: make purple-coloured; dye with purple
vēlum (veil) > vēlō, -āre [1]: cover; wrap; veil
The examples given show the patterns that are covered in the thematic vocabulary lists, i.e. they are not exhaustive but focus only on the word forms that would be used to describe clothing or related ideas. Not every word conforms to the four headings and, in translation, renderings may vary. However, you do gain an overview of the ways in which the endings make subtle, but important differences in meaning. In other words, at Level 4, it is not sufficient merely to know the noun.
Topic / Level 4; clothing [23] descriptions (1)
Description may refer to:
(1) how a person is dressed
bene vestītus (Cicero): well-dressed
optimē vestītus (Cicero): very well dressed
quārē ergō ... tam male vestītus es? (Petronius)
Why, therefore, are you so badly dressed?
vīlicus is autem cum corōnā, candidē vestītus, lautus, exōrnātusque ambulat (Plautus)
However the bailiff walks with a garland, dressed in white, bathed and adorned.
(2) the specific item of clothing the person wears
[i] The type of clothing is indicated in the word itself:
caliga, -ae [1/f]: military boot > caligātus: wearing a military boot; ‘booted’
[ii] in + ablative; an adjective + noun in the ablative case
muliebrī vestītū (Cicero): in women’s clothing
virginālī habitū atque vestītū (Cicero): in the appearance and dress of a maiden
ac modo in crepidīs vel coturnīs, modo in speculātōriā caligā, nōnnumquam soccō muliebrī (Suetonius)
and sometimes in sandals or knee-length boots, sometimes in a shoe worn by scouts, sometimes in a woman’s slipper
[iii] ablative of means / instrument
ōrnāvit etiam torque atque armillīs aureīs cēterōque rēgiō cultū (Nepos);
He also adorned (him) with a chain and bracelets of gold, and other royal decoration
[iv] gerō, -ere, gessī, gestus [3]: (in the context of clothing) wear
The Nepos quotation from [iii] above continues. Note the two different constructions in the same extract:
ipse (1) agrestī ... amīculō circumdatus hirtāque tunicā, (2) gerēns in capite galeam vēnātōriam, ...
He himself, (1) wrapped in a rustic cloak and a rough tunic, (2) wearing a hunter’s cap on his head …
Topic / Level 4; clothing [24] descriptions (2) the monkey in the cloth cap; the Golden Ass (Apuleius) [i] comprehension
The narrator watches a parade associated with the spring festival of the goddess Isis, specifically the first part – the antelūdia – that precedes the main procession.
Ecce pompae magnae paulātim praecēdunt antelūdia vōtīvīs cuiusque studiīs exōrnāta pulcherrimē. Hic incīnctus balteō mīlitem gerēbat, illum succīnctum chlamide crēpidēs et vēnābula vēnātōrem fēcerant, alius soccīs obaurātīs inductus sēricā veste mundōque pretiōsō et adtextīs capite crīnibus incessū perfluō fēminam mentiēbātur. Porrō alium ocreīs, scūtō, galeā ferrōque īnsignem ē lūdō putārēs gladiātōriō prōcēdere. Nec ille dēerat, quī magistrātum fascibus purpurāque lūderet, nec quī palliō baculōque et baxeīs et hircīnō barbitiō philosophum fingeret, nec quī dīversīs harundinibus alter aucupem cum viscō, alter piscātōrem cum hāmīs indūceret. Vīdī et ursam mānsuem <quae> cultū mātrōnālī sellā vehēbātur et sīmiam pilleō textilī crocōtīsque Phrygiīs Catamītī pāstōris speciē aureum gestantem pōculum et asinum pinnīs adglūtinātīs adambulantem cuidam senī dēbilī ut illum quidem Bellerophontem, hunc autem dīcerēs Pēgasum, tamen rīdērēs utrumque.
[1] The anteludia depicts a number of figures dressed in different ways. In which order is each referred to? One is done for you.
a bird-catcher: 7
an ass _____
a fisherman _____
a gladiator _____
a hunter _____
a magistrate _____
a man disguised as a woman _____
a monkey _____
a philosopher _____
a she-bear _____
a soldier _____
an old man _____
[2] Each figure is given certain characteristics. Below are ten of them. Match the figure [A] with the characteristic [B]:
[A]
[i] ass
[ii] gladiator
[iii] hunter
[iv] magistrate
[v] man disguised as a woman
[vi] monkey
[vii] old man
[viii] philosopher
[ix] she-bear
[x] soldier
[B]
dressed in purple
frail
in a married lady’s dress
in silk clothing
wearing a belt
wearing a cap
wearing a helmet
with a goat-like beard
with spears
with wings
[3] Match the phrases from the text with what they refer to:
[i] adtextīs capite crīnibus
[ii] aureum gestantem pōculum
[iii] cum hāmīs
[iv] hunc autem dīcerēs Pēgasum
[v] ocreīs, scūtō
[vi] pāstōris speciē
[vii] sellā vehēbātur
[viii] soccīs obaurātīs
being transported
decorative footwear
fishing
hairpiece / wig
military
mythological creature
resembling somebody
valuable object
____________________
[1]
a bird-catcher: 7
an ass: 11
a fisherman: 8
a gladiator: 4
a hunter: 2
a magistrate: 5
a man disguised as a woman: 3
a monkey: 10
a philosopher: 6
a she-bear: 9
a soldier: 1
an old man: 12
[2]
[i] ass: with wings
[ii] gladiator: wearing a helmet
[iii] hunter: with spears
[iv] magistrate: dressed in purple
[v] man disguised as a woman: in silk clothing
[vi] monkey: wearing a cap
[vii] old man: frail
[viii] philosopher: with a goat-like beard
[ix] she-bear: in a married lady’s dress
[x] soldier: wearing a belt
[3]
[i] adtextīs capite crīnibus: hairpiece / wig
[ii] aureum gestantem pōculum: valuable object
[iii] cum hāmīs: fishing
[iv] hunc autem dīcerēs Pēgasum: mythological creature
[v] ocreīs, scūtō: military
[vi] pāstōris speciē: resembling somebody
[vii] sellā vehēbātur: being transported
[viii] soccīs obaurātīs: decorative footwear
Topic / Level 4; clothing [25] descriptions (3) the monkey in the cloth cap; the Golden Ass (Apuleius) [ii] translation and vocabulary
Ecce pompae magnae paulātim praecēdunt antelūdia vōtīvīs cuiusque studiīs exōrnāta pulcherrimē. Hic incīnctus balteō mīlitem gerēbat, illum succīnctum chlamide crēpidēs* et vēnābula vēnātōrem fēcerant, alius soccīs obaurātīs inductus sēricā veste mundōque pretiōsō et adtextīs capite crīnibus incessū perfluō fēminam mentiēbātur. Porrō alium ocreīs, scūtō, galeā ferrōque īnsignem ē lūdō putārēs gladiātōriō prōcēdere. Nec ille dēerat, quī magistrātum fascibus purpurāque lūderet, nec quī palliō baculōque et baxeīs et hircīnō barbitiō philosophum fingeret, nec quī dīversīs harundinibus alter aucupem cum viscō, alter piscātōrem cum hāmīs indūceret. Vīdī et ursam mānsuem <quae> cultū mātrōnālī sellā vehēbātur et sīmiam pilleō textilī crocōtīsque Phrygiīs Catamītī pāstōris speciē aureum gestantem pōculum et asinum pinnīs adglūtinātīs adambulantem cuidam senī dēbilī ut illum quidem Bellerophontem, hunc autem dīcerēs Pēgasum, tamen rīdērēs utrumque.
Vocabulary
The text, written in highly dense prose, presents a wide range of topical vocabulary in context, most of which has already been discussed in previous posts. Only the new vocabulary is listed here.
*crepidēs: the noun is crepida, -ae [1/f], a type of sandal, i.e. a 1st declension noun that should have an nominative plural in -ae; the ending in the extract (-ēs), which is only attested in Apuleius, is from the Anc. Gk. κρηπῖδες [krēpîdes]
- adglūtinō, -āre [1]; agglūtinō, -āre [1]: glue; paste; fit closely; fasten
- antelūdium, -ī [2/n] is translated variously as ‘curtain-raiser’, ‘advance show’, ‘vanguard’
- attexō (adtexō), -ere, attexuī, attextus (adtextus) [3]: weave on
- auceps, -ipis [3/m]: bird-catcher
- barbitium, -ī [2/n]: beard [ = barba, -ae (1/f)]; the noun is only attested in Apuleius
baxea, -ae [1/f]: a kind of woven shoe or sandal; the noun is used in another section of Apuleius’ work which specifically indicates its manufacture
et cum dictō iuvenem quempiam linteīs amiculīs iniectum pedēsque palmeīs baxeīs inductum et adūsque derāsō capite prōducit in medium
So saying he led forward a young man dressed in a linen tunic and his feet in palm-leaf sandals with his head shaved bare.
exōrnō, -āre [1]: adorn; embellish
> exōrnātus, -a, -um: adorned; embellished
> exōrnātus, -a, -um pulcherrimē: beautifully adorned / embellished
- fascēs, -ium [here: 3/m/pl]: a bundle of rods with an axe carried by the lictors in front of the most senior magistrates
- harundō, -inis [3/f]: reed, cane; anything made of the material e.g. (here) fishing-rod and twigs used for catching birds
- hircīnus, -a, -um: of a goat; goat’s
- incessus, -ūs [4/m]: walk; bearing; gait
mundus, -ī [2/m] is an example of a homonym, a word which has two separate meanings despite the forms being identical, a relatively rare occurrence in Latin:
[i] world
[ii] decoration; dress (of a woman)
The noun is not to be confused with the adjective:
mundus, -a, -um: clean, neat, elegant, smart
- obaurātus, -a, -um: gilded; gold-plated
- pretiōsus, -a, -um: valuable; precious; expensive; costly
- succingō, -ere, succīnxī, succīnctus [3]: gather; tuck up e.g. with a belt
- textilis, -e: woven; plaited; braided; knit
- vēnābulum, -ī [2/n]: hunting-spear
- viscum, -ī [2/n]: [i] mistletoe; [ii] (here) birdlime (produced from misteltoe), a sticky substance smeared on twigs to catch birds
Phrygius, -a, -um: Phrygian; Phrygia, -ae [1/f]: Phrygia, a kingdom in Anatolia (now part of Turkey)
Referring to: Topic / Level 4; clothing [15] Aululāria (Plautus); the dangers of expensive wives [3]: vocabulary and notes (2)
In his soliloquy, Megadorus uses two nouns, forms of which are also in the Apuleius text:
[i] phrygiō, -ōnis [3/m]: an embroiderer, the noun referring to Phrygia whose inhabitants were well-known for the art
[ii] crocōtārius, -ī [2/m]: dyer of saffron garments < crocōta, -ae [1/f]: a saffron-colored court-dress for women
Translation
Ecce pompae magnae paulātim praecēdunt antelūdia
Look, the preludes for the great procession gradually lead the way [literally: go before]
vōtīvīs cuiusque studiīs exōrnāta pulcherrimē.
most beautifully adorned by each person’s desired offerings.
Hic (1) incīnctus balteō ¦ (2) mīlitem gerēbat,
one (was) (1) girded with a sword-belt [ = with a sword-belt wrapped round] and (2) represented a soldier,
illum succīnctum chlamide crēpidēs et vēnābula vēnātōrem fēcerant,
another, with his cloak gathered up, was made a hunter by his sandals and hunting-spears, [literally: the sandals and hunting-spears had made him, tucked up in a (short) cloak, a hunter]
alius soccīs obaurātīs inductus sēricā veste
another, dressed in gilded slippers, silk clothing / a silk gown
mundōque pretiōsō
and in [ = wearing] expensive ornaments
et adtextīs capite crīnibus
and wearing a wig [literally: with hair woven on the head]
incessū perfluō fēminam mentiēbātur.
by his flowing (feminine; mincing) walk was imitating a woman.
Porrō alium ocreīs, scūtō, galeā ferrōque īnsignem ē lūdō putārēs gladiātōriō prōcēdere.
Furthermore, you would think that another, distinguished by his greaves, shield, helmet and sword, was proceeding out of gladiator school.
Nec ille dēerat, quī magistrātum fascibus purpurāque lūderet,
Neither was there absent the one who was playing the magistrate with his bundle of rods and purple robe,
nec quī palliō baculōque et baxeīs et hircīnō barbitiō philosophum fingeret,
nor one who with cloak and stick and sandals and goatlike beard passed himself off as a philosopher,
nec quī dīversīs harundinibus
nor the ones with different rods
alter aucupem cum viscō, alter piscātōrem cum hāmīs indūceret.
one impersonating a bird-catcher with birdlime, the other a fisherman with hooks.
Vīdī et ursam mānsuem <quae> cultū mātrōnālī sellā vehēbātur,
I also saw a tame she-bear (which), in a married lady’s attire, was being borne along in a litter,
et sīmiam pilleō textilī
and a monkey in a cloth cap
crocōtīsque Phrygiīs
and saffron-coloured Phrygian dress
Catamītī pāstōris speciē
with the appearance of Ganymede the shepherd-boy
aureum gestantem pōculum
holding a gold cup
et asinum pinnīs adglūtinātīs
and a donkey with wings glued / fastened on
adambulantem cuidam senī dēbilī
walking alongside a lame old man,
ut illum quidem Bellerophontem, hunc autem dīcerēs Pēgasum,
so that you might indeed say (that) the latter (was) like Bellerophon, but the former (like) Pegasus,
tamen rīdērēs utrumque.
yet you would laugh at each of them.
Topic / Level 4; clothing [26] descriptions (4) the monkey in the cloth cap; the Golden Ass (Apuleius) [iii] notes
Ecce pompae magnae paulātim praecēdunt antelūdia vōtīvīs cuiusque studiīs exōrnāta pulcherrimē. Hic incīnctus balteō mīlitem gerēbat, illum succīnctum chlamide crēpidēs et vēnābula vēnātōrem fēcerant, alius soccīs obaurātīs inductus sēricā veste mundōque pretiōsō et adtextīs capite crīnibus incessū perfluō fēminam mentiēbātur. Porrō alium ocreīs, scūtō, galeā ferrōque īnsignem ē lūdō putārēs gladiātōriō prōcēdere. Nec ille dēerat, quī magistrātum fascibus purpurāque lūderet, nec quī palliō baculōque et baxeīs et hircīnō barbitiō philosophum fingeret, nec quī dīversīs harundinibus alter aucupem cum viscō, alter piscātōrem cum hāmīs indūceret. Vīdī et ursam mānsuem <quae> cultū mātrōnālī sellā vehēbātur et sīmiam pilleō textilī crocōtīsque Phrygiīs Catamītī pāstōris speciē aureum gestantem pōculum et asinum pinnīs adglūtinātīs adambulantem cuidam senī dēbilī ut illum quidem Bellerophontem, hunc autem dīcerēs Pēgasum, tamen rīdērēs utrumque.
[1] ablative of description, for example:
crocōtīsque Phrygiīs
cultū mātrōnālī
pilleō textilī
08.03.24: the ablative of description / quality
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/04/080324-ablative-of-description-quality.html
[2] perfect passive participles:
adtextīs ... crinibus
exōrnāta pulcherrimē
incīnctus balteō
pinnīs adglūtinātīs
soccīs obaurātīs inductus sēricā veste
succīnctum chlamide
[3] verbs and expressions that emphasise the imitative nature of the entire parade:
[i]
Catamītī pāstōris speciē
[ii]
mīlitem gerēbat
fēminam mentiēbātur
illum ... crēpidēs et vēnābula vēnātōrem fēcerant
[iii] Subjunctive
(1)
alium ... ē lūdō putārēs gladiātōriō prōcēdere | you might think that another was coming out of gladiator school
illum quidem Bellerophontem, hunc autem dīcerēs Pēgasum | indeed, you might say that the latter was like Bellerophon, but the former like Pegasus
tamen rīdērēs utrumque | yet you might laugh at both of them
(2)
In the following excerpt the three subjunctive verbs introduce clauses of characteristic; within the parade there was no lack of types of people who would do something:
Nec ille dēerat, quī magistrātum fascibus purpurāque lūderet, nec quī palliō baculōque et baxeīs et hircīnō barbitiō philosophum fingeret, nec quī dīversīs harundinibus alter aucupem cum viscō, alter piscātōrem cum hāmīs indūceret.
Translations may not convey the subjunctive so precisely, but we can render them as close as possible to the original to illustrate the point:
Nec ille dēerat, qui magistrātum ... lūderet | Nor was absent the one / sort (of person) who would play the magistrate
Nec quī ... philosophum fingeret | nor the one who would pass himself off as a philosopher
Nec quī ... piscātōrem indūceret | nor the one who would imitate a fisherman
03.08.26: Level 3+; Subjunctive [79] dependent uses [9] relative clauses of characteristic (1)
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2026/03/030826-level-4-subjunctive-79-dependent.html
03.08.26: Level 3+; Subjunctive [80] dependent uses [9] relative clauses of characteristic (2) practice
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2026/03/030826-level-4-subjunctive-80-dependent.html
[4] Mythological references are mockingly incongruent with the people and animals representing them. Ganymede is a monkey, Pegasus the winged horse is depicted as an ass with wings affixed, and the hero Bellerophon is reduced to a decrepit old man.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganymede_(mythology)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegasus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellerophon
[5] The passage has a cumulative effect as each figure is introduced.
[i] The momentum and increasingly bizarre accumulation is largely achieved by tightly grouped words or 2-3 word phrases describing each participant:
(1) ocreīs, (2) scūtō, (3) galeā (4) ferrōque
(1) soccīs obaurātīs inductus (2) sēricā veste (3) mundōque pretiōsō et (4) adtextīs capite crīnibus
(1) pilleō textilī (2) crocōtīsque Phrygiīs (3) Catamītī pāstōris speciē (4) aureum gestantem pōculum
[ii] polysyndeton, the repetition of conjunctions; here the impression is that no figure remains unrepresented:
nec ille dēerat, quī ... magistrātum ... / nec quī ... philosophum ... / nec quī ... aucupem ...
[iii] the randomness and variety of the figures is conveyed by: hic ... illum ... alius ... alium ... alter ... alter, giving a sense of eyes darting about as the parade is described
Topic / Level 4; clothing [27] descriptions (5) the monkey in the cloth cap; the Golden Ass (Apuleius) [iv] review
Match the text with the images
alius soccīs obaurātīs inductus sēricā veste mundōque pretiōsō et adtextīs capite crīnibus incessū perfluō fēminam mentiēbātur
et asinum pinnīs adglūtinātīs adambulantem cuidam senī dēbilī ut illum quidem Bellerophontem, hunc autem dīcerēs Pēgasum, tamen rīdērēs utrumque
et sīmiam pilleō textilī crocōtīsque Phrygiīs Catamītī pāstōris speciē aureum gestantem pōculum
hic incīnctus balteō mīlitem gerēbat, illum succīnctum chlamide crēpidēs et vēnābula vēnātōrem fēcerant
nec ille dēerat, quī magistrātum fascibus purpurāque lūderet
nec quī dīversīs harundinibus alter aucupem cum viscō, alter piscātōrem cum hāmīs indūceret
nec quī palliō baculōque et baxeīs et hircīnō barbitiō philosophum fingeret
porrō alium ocreīs, scūtō, galeā ferrōque īnsignem ē lūdō putārēs gladiātōriō prōcēdere
vīdī et ursam mānsuem quae cultū mātrōnālī sellā vehēbātur
Topic / Level 4; clothing [28] descriptions (6)
The exercise focuses exclusively on adjectives and perfect passive participles. Complete the quotations with the words listed below. Some are already well-known at this level, while others can be easily identified by derivatives or by related nouns discussed in previous posts. Note that some words appear in more than one form. Therefore, check the grammatical context carefully.
[i] the clothes you wear were once dirty wool
quās geritis vestis, __________ lāna fuit (Ovid)
[ii] then twenty-seven maidens, (1) dressed in (2) long clothing
tum septem et vīgintī virginēs, (2) __________ (1) __________ vestem (Livy)
[iii] three yokes fitted / equipped (‘decorated’) with straps
iuga cum lōrīs __________ III (Cato)
[iv] often perfumes drip from his garlanded hair, and the mantle, bright (‘splendid’) with much saffron, is swept along.
saepe __________ stillant unguenta capillīs et trahitur multō __________ palla crocō (Ovid)
[v] as if one should say to a person who shows off a luxurious garb or adornment …
… ut sī quis eī, quī vestītum aut ōrnātum __________ ostentet, dīcat … (Cicero)
[vi] for (they say that) he wore the broad stripe (with) fringed (sleeves) down to his hands
ūsum enim __________ clāvō ad manūs __________ (Suetonius)
[vii] I clothed myself in a woman’s attire, brightly coloured (‘flowery’), flowing into loose folds, my head covered with a woven cap, and (1) dressed in those (2) white and (3) thin shoes that women wear
sūmptā veste __________ __________ in sinūs __________ abundante, mitellāque __________ contēctō capite, calceīs fēminīnīs (2) __________ illīs et (3) __________ (1) __________ (Apuleius)
[viii] if she had dared to confess to the old man the soft garments and shameful coverings
sī __________ habitūs et tegmina foeda fatērī ausa senī (Statius)
[ix] A choice of clean clothing should be sought by a man [ = a man should choose …]
__________ vestis ēlēctiō adpetenda est hominī (Seneca the Younger)
[x] Eutrapelus would give costly clothes to anybody he wanted to harm; for, now blessed, with beautiful tunics he will adopt new plans and hopes
Eutrapelus, cuicumque nocēre volēbat, vestīmenta dabat __________; beātus enim iam cum __________ tunicīs sūmet nova cōnsilia et spēs (Horace)
[xi] if someone sews a tunic for ordinary wear so that one panel is with narrow stripes, the other with broad ones, each part in its own way lacks proportion
sī quis tunicam in ūsū ita cōnsuit, ut altera plagula sit __________ clāvis, altera __________, utraque pars in suō genere caret analogiā (Varro)
[xii] He lived in the wilderness… rough clothing, a leather belt [literally: made of skins], locusts for food, and wild honey …
vīvēbat in heremō ... vestis __________, zōna __________, cibus locustae, melque silvestre … (Justinian)
[xiii] Let me have … a toga which, though coarse, may be able to keep out the cold
sit mihi … toga, quae dēfendere frīgus quamvīs __________ queat (Horace)
[xiv] a simple cloak
pallium __________ (Varro)
albīs; angustīs; aspera; corōnātīs; crassa; fimbriātō; flaccidōs; flōridā; indūtae; indūtus; lātīs; lātō; longam; mollēs; muliebrī; mundae; ōrnāta; pellicia; pretiōsa; pulchrīs; simplex; sordida; splendida; sūmptuōsum; tenuibus; textilī
____________________
[i] quās geritis vestis, sordida lāna fuit
[ii] tum septem et vīgintī virginēs, (2) longam (1) indūtae vestem
[iii] iuga cum lōrīs ōrnāta III
[iv] saepe corōnātīs stillant unguenta capillīs et trahitur multō splendida palla crocō
[v] … ut sī quis eī, quī vestītum aut ōrnātum sūmptuōsum ostentet, dīcat …
[vi] ūsum enim lātō clāvō ad manūs fimbriātō
[vii] sūmptā veste muliebrī flōridā in sinūs flaccidōs abundante, mitellāque textilī contēctō capite, calceīs fēminīnīs albīs illīs et tenuibus indūtus
[viii] sī mollēs habitūs et tegmina foeda fatērī ausa senī
[ix] mundae vestis ēlēctiō adpetenda est hominī
[x] Eutrapelus, cuicumque nocēre volēbat, vestīmenta dabat pretiōsa; beātus enim iam cum pulchrīs tunicīs sūmet nova cōnsilia et spēs
[xi] sī quis tunicam in ūsū ita cōnsuit, ut altera plagula sit angustīs clāvis, altera lātīs, utraque pars in suō genere caret analogiā
[xii] vīvēbat in heremō ... vestis aspera, zōna pellicia, cibus locustae, melque silvestre …
[xiii] sit mihi … toga, quae dēfendere frīgus quamvīs crassa queat
[xiv] pallium simplex
Topic / Level 4; clothing [29] colour-coding the Romans (1)
[1] The topic of colour was introduced at a very early stage, and gave a range of adjectives that we can apply to our basic colour “palette”:
15.07.24: level 1; adjectives [2]; colour
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/06/150724-level-1-adjectives-2-colour.html
It is worth bearing in mind Traupman’s remarks:
“The vagueness of Latin color terms is due to the origin of colors out of dyestuff and pigments. The colors of minerals vary, and dyes produce different effects according to the mode of preparation and the materials dyed. Their applications have to be guessed from literary sources, which for the most part are incidental and vague. Color names used by poets tend to be applied metaphorically or indefinitely.”
[2] The English terms for the basic colours are of Germanic origin:
[i] white | OE: hwīt
[ii] black | OE: blæc
[iii] red | OE: rēad
[iv] grey | OE: grǣġ [ġ = /y/ sound]
[v] green | OE: grēne
[vi] brown | OE: brūn
[vii] yellow | OE: ġeolu
[viii] blue | OE: blāw
However, when we consider the Latin equivalents of these colours, none of them are conveyed by merely one adjective. If you look up any Latin colour adjective in Wiktionary, you will also see an extensive list of options, for example:
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/viridis
Here, we will focus only on a selection to identify main differences, but it does not necessarily follow that the Roman authors had such specific distinctions in mind, i.e. we cannot ‘colour match’ exactly.
[i]
albus, -a, -um: (dull) white
candidus, -a, -um: shining white
[ii]
āter, ātra, ātrum: matt black
niger, nigra, nigrum: shining black
When we’re buying a pot of paint, we still differentiate between ‘matt white / black’ and ‘gloss white / black’
[iii]
ruber, -ra, -rum: red
rūfus, -a, -um: red (of hair)
[iv]
cānus, -a, -um: grey (-haired)
cinereus, -a, -um: grey; ash-coloured < cinis, cineris [3 m/f]: cold ashes
[v]
viridis, -e: green
herbeus, -a, -um: grass-green
prasinus, -a, -um: leek-green
[vi]
fuscus, -a, -um: dark; brown, but not necessarily a colour, i.e. it could describe complexion such as ‘swarthy’
brūnus, -a, -um; brunneus, -a, -um (Late / Mediaeval): brown; of Germanic origin
[vii]
flāvus, -a, -um: yellow; blond
aureus, -a, -um: golden
lūteus, -a, -um: “golden-yellow, saffron-yellow, orange-yellow” (Lewis & Short), and that can be confidently matched to, as one example, Pliny the Elder’s reference to the yolk of an egg
lūtea ex ōvīs quīnīs columbārum | the yolks of five pigeons’ eggs
And what about [viii] blue | OE: blāw?
It well illustrates Traupman’s observations on the challenge of colour, and we will look at it in the next post.
Topic / Level 4; clothing [30] colour-coding the Romans (2) What blue are you wearing?
Let’s take one adjective and examine it in a little more detail. If you were given a second to answer the question “What colour are the sky and the sea?”, an instant response would – justifiably – be ‘blue’. However, anybody who has ever bought a pot of blue paint knows that it isn’t as simple as that!
“For our blues we have the azures and ceruleans, lapis lazulis, the light and dusty, the powder blues, the deeps: royal, sapphire, navy, and marine” (William H. Gass, On Being Blue: A Philosophical Inquiry)
Let’s recall Miranda Priestly’s comments in “The Devil Wears Prada”: “What you don't know is that your sweater is not blue. It's not turquoise. It’s not lapis. It's cerulean.”
caeruleus, -a, -um / caerulus, -a, -um: ‘blue’
The colour is associated with both (1) the sky and (2) the sea; the adjective reflects what the Romans saw, and what we still see, i.e. it is not simply ‘blue’, although it can be translated as such, but rather a colour spectrum straddling the concepts of, for example, (dark) blue, ‘sea’ green, azure (the clear blue colour of the sky).
(1)
[i] Quamquam multa manūs ad caelī caerula templa tendēbam lacrimāns et blandā vōce vocābam (Ennius)
Although many times in tears I stretched my hands to the blue regions of the sky and called with an alluring voice.
[ii] et sōlis flammam per caelī caerula pāscī (Lucretius)
and the flame of the sun is fed through the blue of heaven
(2)
[i] maxuma quā nunc sē pontī plāga caerula tendit (Lucretius)
Where now the vast blue region of the ocean spreads
[ii]
Nunc, ō caeruleō creāta pontō (Catullus)
Now, you, created by the blue sea
[2] A number of terms (but not all) referring to colour mixtures are of Old French origin, and ultimately from Latin. However, we will leave out the Old French “middle man” and look directly at the Latin.
[i] purple | purpureus, -a, -um: purple; purpura, -ae [1/f]: the colour purple
[ii] rose | roseus, -a, -um: rose-coloured, pink; rosa, -ae [1/f]: rose
[iii] scarlet | (Mediaeval) scarlāticus, -a, -um: scarlet-coloured | (Mediaeval) scarlāticum, -ī [2/n]: scarlet-coloured cloth; (CL) coccineus, -a, -um
[iv] violet | violāceus, -a, -um: violet-coloured; viola, -ae [1/f]: violet (the flower)
An interesting one is Engl. livid, which we associate more with somebody being ‘livid’ i.e. extremely angry. However, if you are bruised “black and blue”, the adjective ‘livid’ describes it!
livid | līvidus, -a, -um: blue; “of a leaden colour” (Lewis & Short); līveō, -ēre [2]: to be of a bluish colour
[3] And why does Miranda refer to lapis?
Latin: lapis, -idis [3/m]; stone; (poet.) a precious stone. Of course, she is simply describing the intense blue colour of the semi-precious stone lapis lazuli, the second part relating to the Mediaeval Latin lazulum, -ī [2/n]: heaven; sky
Topic / Level 4; clothing [31] colour-coding the Romans (3) How many colours do you need?
It is unlikely that Miranda Priestly and Epidicus, the titular character of Plautus’ play, would have seen eye to eye:
EPIDICUS
quid istae, quae vestī quotannīs nōmina inveniunt nova? | What about those women who invent new words for clothing every year?
tunicam rallam, | the thin tunic,
tunicam spissam, | the thick tunic,
linteolum caesicium, | the little dark bluish linen one
indūsiātam, | the under-garment
patagiātam, | the gold-bordered
caltulam aut crocōtulam, | the yellow robe or the saffron-coloured
subparum aut subnimium (1), | the rather-too-little or the rather-too-much
rīcam, | the veil
basilicum aut exōticum, | the royal or exotic
cūmātile aut plūmātile, | the wave-coloured or feathered-patterned
carinum aut cērinum — | the nut-brown coloured or wax-coloured –
gerrae maxumae. | utter nonsense.
cānī quoque etiam adēmptumst nōmen […] | even a name’s been taken from a dog too […]
vocant Lacōnicum (2). | they call (it) the “Spartan”
(1) Plautus plays on the sound of the real garment supparum (a light linen under-tunic), treating it as a compound of sub (somewhat) and parum (too little) to set up his joke; subnimium (sub + nimium, "too much") is a confected word invented as a humorous comic foil to supparum.
(2) a literal joke about the absurdity of fashion slang; referring to the name of a hunting dog, which Epidicus claims women have stolen to use as a name for clothing
Immediately to grasp what Epidicus is mocking in the speech, you only need to look at a site that boasts an arguably pretentious range of “Calm harmonious palettes evoking clarity and openness” such as “coastal blues, deep sea blue, serene blue, refreshing aqua tones, nautical blues …”
https://coolors.co/palettes/popular/blue
What are your thoughts as your neighbour boasts a kitchen – newly painted in a lovely combination of “mermaid dreams” – as opposed to “blue”?
Epidicus refers to the invention of names, and the choices of colour are rare or, possibly, confected. All of it is dismissed as gerrae maxumae.
There are six colours mentioned, and we can broadly group them into three pairs, each pair implying some ‘shade’ of a base colour:
[1]
[i] cūmātilis, -e < Anc. Gk. κῦμᾰ [kûmă]: wave
cūmātile, -is [3/n]: wave-coloured / sea-coloured garment; Lewis & Short render the noun as a ‘bluish’ garment, but a reference to ‘wave’ or ‘sea’ emphasises the subtlety.
[ii] caesicius, -a, -um
One translator aptly renders the phrase ‘linteolum caesicium’ as “the blue linen-esque”, which is as mockingly concocted as the Latin original.
caesicius, -a, -um < caesius, -a, -um: bluish-grey (used when describing eye colour)
Note the way in which Cicero differentiates colour even if the translator is circumspect in giving anything beyond basic descriptors.
istō / enim modo dīcere licēbit Iovem semper barbātum, / Apollinem semper inberbem, caesiōs oculōs Minervae, / caeruleōs esse Neptūnī (Cicero)
For indeed it will be permitted to say that Jupiter always has a beard, Apollo is always without a beard, Minerva’s eyes are grey and Neptune’s blue.
Appropriately enough, Neptune’s eye colour is associated with the sea.
“the blue-grey-green-eyed lion”
That precise colours cannot always be “pinned down” is evident in three different translations of the same line:
sōlus in Libyā Indiāque tostā / caesiō veniam obvius leōnī (Catullus 45)
may I alone meet a green-eyed lion in Libya and burning India
alone in Libya and scorched India may I come to meet the blue-eyed lion
may I alone in Libya and torrid India meet a grey-eyed lion
The image shows the rubus caesius belonging to the family of flowering plant species such as the blackberry and raspberry < rubus, -ī [2/m]: bramble-bush; blackberry bush. The rubus caesius is the dewberry which describes its colour.
[2]
[iii] caltula, -ae [1/f]: a yellow robe < caltha, -ae [1/f]: a yellow flower, possibly marigold; a translation as ‘marigold’ would, again, take the colour “scheme” beyond a vague yellow. Consider the difference between “I’m not wearing a yellow dress,” she protested, “but a daffodil-coloured one!”
[iv] crocōt(ul)a, -ae [1/f]: saffron-coloured robe < Anc. Gk. κροκωτός [krokōtós]; Lat: crocus, -ī [2/m]: crocus; saffron < Anc. Gk. κρόκος [krókos]
The raw spice of saffron is deep red or crimson. However, when it is steeped in liquid it releases a pigment that can dye clothes golden-yellow or dark orange. That both a ‘marigold’ and saffron dress are poetically paired in the speech - caltulam aut crocōtulam – appears to emphasise the “fine-tuning” of colour.
[3]
We have a similar direct pairing in: carinum aut cērinum which, again, contrasts similar colours:
[v] carinus, -a, -um: nut-brown colour, or carinum, -ī [2/n]: a nut-brown coloured dress < Anc. Gk. καρύινος [kărúïnos]: of nuts, nut-brown. A form of this word was discussed in the post on Plautus’ Aulularia: cārinārius, -ī [2/m]: a maker of ‘nut-brown’ dye
[vi] cērinus, -a, -um: wax-coloured, or cērinum, -ī [2/n]: a wax-coloured dress < Anc. Gk. κήρινος [kḗrĭnos]
Both [v] and [vi] are very rare. However, a common adjective is:
cēreus, -a, -um: wax-coloured, which could also be interpreted as ‘beige’ or ‘cream-coloured’ < Lat: cēra, -ae [1/f]: wax; beeswax; honeycomb
Can you “colour match” Epidicus’ descriptions? While, of course, these may not be the precise colours that are being described, they do show the differences that he wants to highlight or, rather, criticise!
Rubus caesius
