Comenius (1658) LXXV; the Bath [3] vocabulary (2)

[vi]

Balneātor scarificat scalprō & applicandō cucurbitās extrahit sanguinem subcutāneum, quem abstergit spongiā.

The bath-keeper lances with a lancet and by applying cupping-glasses he draws the blood between the skin and the flesh, which he wipes away with a sponge.

[i] image #1: cucurbita, -ae [1/f]: [i] gourd, squash, (Neo-Latin) pumpkin; [ii] cupping-glass, used in the operation of drawing blood; the term conveys the shape of the glass

[ii] scalprum, -ī [2/n]: lancet; knife > (diminutive) scalpellum, -ī [2/n]: a small surgical knife > Engl. scalpel

image #2: bronze lancet found at Ephesus (Science Museum, UK)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/100625-blunt-razors-blood-letting-and_6.html

Bloodletting and lancing were normally associated with barber-surgeons who, alongside cutting hair and shaving, would perform minor surgery, for example tooth extraction and the treatment of wounds. Here, Comenius refers to the practice being carried out by bath attendants.

The same medical practices took place in Ancient Rome although whether minor surgical procedures were performed at the actual location of the baths is less certain. However, the medicinal benefits of bathing are referred to by, for example, Celsus.

Images #3 and #4: bloodletting in Ancient Greece and the Middle Ages

Comenius (1658) LXXV; the Bath [2] vocabulary (1)

 [i] -tor (masculine); -trīx (feminine)

Used to form agent nouns i.e. the person who performs the action contained in the root, usually a verb but, also from nouns i.e. balneum, -ī [2/n]: bath

balneum + -tor > balneātor, -ōris [3/m]: bath attendant (male)

balneum + -trīx > balneātrīx, -īcis [3/f]: bath attendant (female)

piscātor, -ōris [3/m]: fisherman; piscātrīx, piscātrīcis [3/f]: fisherwoman

āctor,-ōris [3/m]: actor; āctrīx, -īcis [3/f]: actress

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/04/300324-third-declension-5-more-ways-of.html

[Notes (5) and (6)]

[ii]

balneārium, -ī [2/n]: bathing-house

-ārium: the suffix is primarily used to denote either the purpose of a place or a place where things are kept:

liber (book) + -ārium > librārium, -ī [2/n]: bookcase; library

arma (weapons; tools) + -ārium > armārium, -ī [2/n]: cupboard

[iii]

apodytērium, -ī [2/n]: dressing-room, undressing room, the term used in Classical Latin for that section of the Roman bath house

sūdātōrium, -ī [2/n]: hot-air bath, sweating room; this is a rare word in CL although it is referred to by Seneca. The words used in Ancient Rome referring to the parts of a bath house are:

[1] caldārium, -ī [2/n]: from caldus, -a, -um, the caldarium was a room with hot water supplied, and with a hypocaust, an underfloor heating system.

[2] tepidārium, -ī [2/n]: From tepidus, -a, -um, this was the warm bathroom between the hot caldarium and the cold frigidarium with a lukewarm bath of water (labrum) lessening the shock of moving from one extreme temperature to the other.

[3] frīgidārium, -ī [2/n]: from frīgidus, -a, -um, the frigidarium contained a large pool of cold water for cooling off after the heat of the caldarium and tepidarium.

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/05/190424-bath-time.html

[iv]

alveus, -ī [2/m]: in the text, the word simply refers to a water trough; various additional meanings including any deep vessel, the hold of a ship and a riverbed. The term was also used in a derogatory way since it could refer to a trough for feeding pigs:

Etiam in alveō circumlāta sunt oxycomina, unde quīdam etiam improbē ternōs pugnōs sustulērunt (Petronius)

Pickled olives were also brought round in a dish, from where some voraciously took three fistfuls.

The author’s choice of alveus to describe the dish, combined with the guests’ greedy grabbing, implies that their behaviour is no different from that of pigs. Indeed, the English verb trough defines eating in a vulgar manner.

canālis, -is [3/m]: pipe, channel

image #1: water pipe, Pompeii

labrum, -ī [2/n]: tub, basin

image #2: labrum in the caldarium of the main forum baths at Pompeii

situla, -ae [1/f]: bucket

image #3: Giberville bucket

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giberville_bucket

pelluvium [2/n] / pelluvia, -ae [1/f]: basin, footbath; both nouns are extremely rare

image #4: malluvium, -ī [2/n]: (Mediaeval) wash-hand basin

image #5: footbath (Greek; late 5th–early 4th century BCE, Metropolitan Museum)

image #6: engraving (1890) of a relief sculpture of a young Roman wife covering her face with a flammeum which is an orange bridal veil while another woman washes her feet.

[v]

castula, -ae [1/f]: apron, loincloth; in CL it referred specifically to a type of petticoat worn by women

cilicium, -ī [2/n]: hair-cloth; the term originally refers to a rough garment made of goat hair

pīleolus, -ī [2/m] / pilleolus, -ī [2/m]: little cap; -ol- marks the diminutive form of pīleus / pilleus, a felt cap

pūmex, pūmicis [3/m]: pumice-stone

Level 4; subjunctive (review) [4] Road to Latin (Chesnutt) 49

Caesarī __________ cōnsilia Helvētiōrum __________, Rōmā celeriter profectus est. Magnīs itineribus in Galliam ulteriōrem contendit et ad Genavam pervēnit. Mīlitum quam maximum numerum coēgit atque pontem quī erat ad Genavam dēlērī iussit. __________ Caesar mīlitēs ex prōvinciā __________, Helvētiī lēgātōs ad eum mīsērunt. Lēgātī __________  __________ eius voluntāte Helvētiīs iter per prōvinciam facere __________.

Caesar __________ __________ Helvētiōs quondam exercitum Rōmānum sub iugum mīsisse, eīs iter dare dubitāvit. __________ autem __________ __________ Helvētiī, neque hominēs bellicōsōs sine inīuriā iter per prōvinciam factūrōs esse exīstimābat. __________ satis magnum numerum mīlitum in Galliā __________, eō tempore contrā Helvētiōs bellum gerere nōluit. Itaque lēgātōs post aliquot diēs revertī iussit.

Interim Caesar et legiō decima rīpam Rhodanī multa mīlia passuum mūrō fossāque mūnīre coepērunt. Mīlitēs, superiōribus proeliīs exercitī, brevissimō tempore rem perfēcērunt. Ubi lēgātī Helvētiī diē cōnstitūtā ad Caesarem revertērunt, sē Helvētiīs iter per prōvinciam dare posse negāvit.

__________ Caesar eīs iter __________, __________ Helvētiī vī flūmen trānsīre coepērunt. Aliī navibus, aliī vadīs flumen trānsīre ausī sunt. Magnus fuit labor Helvētiōrum at frūstrā ausī sunt. Helvētiī __________ diē noctūque mūnītiōnem perrumpere __________, id __________ perficere nōn potuērunt. Tandem, mūnītiōne et mīlitum tēlīs repulsī, cessērunt.

Complete the Latin with the words and phrases listed below; some words are used more than once

[1] When the plans of the Helvetii had been reported to Caesar …

Caesarī __________ cōnsilia Helvētiōrum __________, …

[2] When Caesar was assembling soldiers from the province, …

__________ Caesar mīlitēs ex prōvinciā __________, …

[3] The envoys asked that, with his consent, it be allowed for the Helvetii to make a journey.

Lēgātī __________  __________ eius voluntāte Helvētiīs iter per prōvinciam facere __________.

[4] Caesar, since he remembered that the Helvetii had once sent a Roman army under the yoke…

Caesar __________  __________ Helvētiōs quondam exercitum Rōmānum sub iugum mīsisse …

[5] He realized, however, what kind of people the Helvetii were, …

__________ autem __________ __________ Helvētiī, …

[6] Since he did not have a sufficiently large number of soldiers in Gaul …

__________ satis magnum numerum mīlitum in Galliā __________ …

​[7] Although Caesar had not given them a passage, the Helvetii nevertheless began to cross the river by force.

__________ Caesar eīs iter __________, __________ Helvētiī vī flūmen trānsīre coepērunt.

[8] Although the Helvetii tried day and night to break through the fortifications, they nevertheless were not able to accomplish it.

Helvētiī __________ diē noctūque mūnītiōnem perrumpere __________, id __________ perficere nōn potuērunt.

cōgeret

cōnārentur

cum

essent

licēret

memoriā tenēret

nōn dedisset

nōn habēret

nūntiāta essent

quālēs

rogāvērunt

sēnsit

tamen

ut

____________________

[1] Caesarī cum cōnsilia Helvētiōrum nūntiāta essent, …

[2] Cum Caesar mīlitēs ex prōvinciā cōgeret, …

[3] Lēgātī rogāvērunt ut eius voluntāte Helvētiīs iter per prōvinciam facere licēret.

[4] Caesar cum memoriā tenēret Helvētiōs quondam exercitum Rōmānum sub iugum mīsisse …

[5] Sēnsit autem quālēs essent Helvētiī, …

[6] Cum satis magnum numerum mīlitum in Galliā nōn habēret …

[7] Cum Caesar eīs iter nōn dedisset, tamen Helvētiī vī flūmen trānsīre coepērunt.

[8] Helvētiī cum diē noctūque mūnītiōnem perrumpere cōnārentur, id tamen perficere nōn potuērunt.

Level 3+ (review); Dooge LXX [2] comprehension (2)

 THE RIVAL CENTURIONS [2]

Haec cum dīxisset, extrā mūnītiōnēs prōcessit et in eam hostium partem quae cōfertissima vidēbātur inrūpit. Neque Vorēnus quidem tum vāllō sēsē continet, sed Pullōnem subsequitur. Tum Pullō pīlum in hostīs immittit atque ūnum ex multitūdine prōcurrentem trāicit. Hunc percussum et exanimātum hostēs scūtīs prōtegunt et in Pullōnem omnēs tēla coniciunt. Eius scūtum trānsfīgitur et tēlum in balteō dēfīgitur. Hic cāsus vāgīnam āvertit et dextram manum eius gladium ēdūcere cōnantis morātur. Eum ita impedītum hostēs circumsistunt.

[1] “Haec … circumsistunt.”

In which order do the following events take place?

a pierced shield _____

a spear in a belt _____

advancing beyond the fortifications _____

bursting into the most densely packed section of the enemy _____

hurling a javelin _____

inability to draw the sword _____

protecting with shields _____

somebody running forward _____

surrounded by the enemy _____

Vorenus follows Pullo _____

[2] Complete the Latin texts with the words listed below. Note that the order of words in the Latin and English texts may be different.

[A] Then indeed Vorenus, (1) although (2) he is his enemy, (3) nevertheless gives assistance, (3) to him (4) while he is struggling. At once all the crowd turns from Pullo to (6) him. Vorenus fights hand-to-hand with his sword, and, (7) one (man) (8) having been killed, drives back the rest a little. But the unfortunate man, (9) pressing forward too eagerly, his foot (10) slipping, falls.

Tum vēro (4) __________ (5) __________ Vorēnus, (1) __________ (2) __________ inimīcus, (3) __________ auxilium dat. Ad (6) __________ cōnfestim ā Pullōne omnis multitūdō sē convertit. Gladiō comminus pugnat Vorēnus, atque, (7) __________ (8) __________, reliquōs paulum prōpellit. Sed (9) __________ cupidius īnfēlīx, pede sē (10) __________, concidit.

cum; eī; fallente; hunc; īnstāns; interfectō; labōrantī; sit; tamen; ūnō

[B]

(1) To him again, (2) when surrounded, Pullo gives aid, and (3) both return within the fortifications (4) unharmed, after (5) many (6) had been killed, with the (7) highest praise. Thus (8) each of the enemies gave help (9) to the other, nor could (10) anyone judge between their courage.

(1) __________ rūrsus (2) __________ auxilium dat Pullō, atque (3) __________ (4) __________, (5) __________ (6) __________, (7) __________ cum laude intrā mūnītiōnēs sē recipiunt. Sic inimīcōrum (8) __________ (9) __________ auxilium dedit nec dē eōrum virtūte (10) __________ iūdicāre potuit.

alter; alterī; ambō; circumventō; huic; incolumēs; interfectīs; plūribus; quisquam; summā

____________________

[1]

a pierced shield [7]

a spear in a belt [8]

advancing beyond the fortifications [1]

bursting into the most densely packed section of the enemy [2]

hurling a javelin [4]

inability to draw the sword [9]

protecting with shields [6]

somebody running forward [5]

surrounded by the enemy [10]

Vorenus follows Pullo [3]

[2]

[A] Tum vēro (4) eī (5) labōrantī Vorēnus, (1) cum (2) sit inimīcus, (3) tamen auxilium dat. Ad (6) hunc cōnfestim ā Pullōne omnis multitūdō sē convertit. Gladiō comminus pugnat Vorēnus, atque, (7) ūnō (8) interfectō, reliquōs paulum prōpellit. Sed (9) īnstāns cupidius īnfēlīx, pede sē (10) fallente, concidit.

[B] (1) Huic rūrsus (2) circumventō auxilium dat Pullō, atque (3) ambō (4) incolumēs, (5) plūribus (6) interfectīs, (7) summā cum laude intrā mūnītiōnēs sē recipiunt. Sic inimīcōrum (8) alter (9) alterī auxilium dedit nec dē eōrum virtūte (10) quisquam iūdicāre potuit.

Level 3+ (review); Dooge LXX [1] comprehension (1)

 THE RIVAL CENTURIONS [1]

Illīs in castrīs erant duo centuriōnēs, fortissimī virī, T. Pullō et L. Vorēnus, quōrum neuter alterī virtūte cēdere volēbat. Inter eōs iam multōs annōs īnfēnsum certāmen gerēbātur. Tum dēmum fīnis contrōversiae hōc modō factus est. Diē tertiō postquam Pūblius pervēnit, hostēs, maiōribus cōpiīs coāctīs, ācerrimum impetum in castra fēcērunt. Tum Pullō, cum Rōmānī tardiōrēs vidērentur, “Cūr dubitās,” inquit, “Vorēne? Quam commodiōrem occāsiōnem exspectās? Hic diēs dē virtūte nostrā iūdicābit.”

Illīs in castrīs … factus est..

[1] “Illīs in castrīs … factus est.”

Quote and translate the parts of this introduction that state that:

[i] the two centurions were rivals (2)

[ii] the rivalry was hostile (2)

[iii] the rivalry was resolved (2)

[2] “Diē tertiō … iūdicābit.”

[a] The following statements are false; correct them:

[i] Publius reached the camp on the third day of the attack.

[ii] The Romans had assembled larger forces.

[iii] The Romans made a sudden attack on the enemy.

[iv] Publius was sure that the enemy were slow to act.

[v] Vorenus asked Publius why he was hesitant.

[b] In your own words, explain how Pullus encourages the Romans to take action. (2)

____________________

[1]

[i] quōrum neuter alterī virtūte cēdere volēbat | neither of whom was willling to give way to the other

[ii] īnfēnsum certāmen | hostile rivalry

[iii] fīnis contrōversiae … factus est | an end was made to the dispute

[2]

[a]

[i] the attack happened on the third day after his arrival

[ii] The enemy had assembled larger forces.

[iii] The enemy made a very fierce attack on the Roman camp.

[iv] The Romans seemed rather slow to Pullo.

[v] Pullus asked Vorenus why he was hesitating.

[b] He says that there is no more favourable opportunity (1) and this day will judge their courage (1)

Comenius (1658) LXXV; the Bath [1] text, translation, grammar notes

The Bath | Balneum

He that desireth to be wash’d | quī cupit lavārī

in cold water, | aquā frīgidā,

goeth down into a river, 1. | dēscendit in flūvium, 1.

In a bathing-house, 2. | in balneāriō, 2.

we wash off the filth | abluimus squalōrēs,

either sitting in a tub, 3. | sīve sedentēs in labrō, 3.

or going up | sīve cōnscendentēs

into the hot-house, 4. | in sūdātōrium, 4.

and we are rubbed | & dēfricāmur

with a pumice-stone, | pūmice,

or a hair-cloth, | aut ciliciō,

In the stripping-room, 5. | in apodytēriō, 5.

we put off our clothes, | exuimus vestēs,

and are tyed about | & praecingimur

with an apron, 6. | castulā, 6.

We cover our head | tegimus caput

with a cap, 7. | pīleolō, 7.

and put our feet | & impōnimus pedēs

into a bason, 8. | pelluviō, 8.

The bath-woman, 9. | balneātrīx, 9.

reacheth water in a bucket, 10. | ministrat aquam situlā, 10.

drawn out of the trough, 11. | haustam ex alveō, 11.

into which it runneth | in quem dēfluit

out of pipes, 12. | ē canālibus, 12.

The bath-keeper, 13. | balneātor, 13.

lanceth with a lancet, 14. | scarificat scalprō, 14.

and by applying | & applicandō

cupping-glasses, | cucurbitās,

he draweth the blood | extrahit sanguinem

betwixt the skin and the flesh, | subcutāneum,

which he wipeth away | quem abstergit

with a spunge, | spongiā.

[1] Grammar notes

[i] passive voice

quī cupit lavārī | he who desires to get washed

dēfricāmur | we are rubbed

praecingimur | we are tied about

[ii] ablative of means / instrument

quī cupit lavārī aquā frīgidā | he who desires to get washed in [by means of] cold water

dēfricāmur pūmice aut ciliciō | we are rubbed with a pumice-stone, or a hair-cloth

praecingimur castulā | we are tied about with an apron

tegimus caput pīleolō | we cover the head with a cap

balneātor scarificat scalprō | The bath-keeper lanceth with a lancet

(sanguinem) abstergit spongiā | He wipes away the blood with a sponge

[iii] present active participle

abluimus squalōrēs, sīve sedentēs in labrō, sīve cōnscendentēs in sūdātōrium

we wash off the filth, either [while] sitting in a tub, or [while] going up into the hot-house

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/present%20active%20participle

[iv] gerund

applicandō cucurbitās

by applying cupping-glasses

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/gerund

Level 4; subjunctive (review) [3] Road to Latin (Chesnutt) 48

Amīcī Caesaris cōnsilia Helvētiōrum animadvertunt atque maximē perturbantur. Intellegunt Helvētiōs ex fīnibus suīs ēgrēdī statuisse. Cognōscunt eōs multīs aliīs gentibus persuādēre ut sē sociōs coniungant et ex fīnibus suīs ēgrediantur. Sentiunt Helvētiōs per prōvinciam Rōmānam iter facere cōnātūrōs esse. Timent nē Helvētiī sociīs Rōmānīs maximē noceant. Itaque magnā cum celeritāte Rōmam contendunt ut cum Caesare conloquantur.

“Cūr tam celeriter ex Galliā vēnistis?” quaesīvit Caesar. Cūr perturbāminī?”

“Cūr perturbāmur? Multa apud Helvētiōs cōnspeximus, Caesar. Libenter tē certiōrem faciēmus cūr perturbēmur. Helvētiī ex fīnibus suīs ēgredī statuērunt et magnum numerum carrōrum et iūmentōrum ēmērunt. Rogāsne cūr Helvētiī ēgredī statuerint? Rogāsne quantum numerum carrōrum et iūmentōrum ēmerint? Prīmō nōn intellēximus cūr ex suīs fīnibus ēgredī statuissent, et cūr tantum numerum carrōrum et iūmentōrum ēmissent. Itaque ā nostrīs amīcīs Helvēticīs quaesīvimus quae Helvētiī facerent.”

Tum Caesar ipse perturbāus quaesīvit quae repperissent. “Helvētiī, Caesar, exīstimant suōs fīnēs angustiōrēs esse prō multitūdine hominum; cōnstituērunt igitur domō exīre ut regiōnibus sibi idōneīs potīrentur. Ad novās regiōnēs eunt. Rogāsne num per prōvinciam Rōmānam eant? Amīcī nostrī nōs certiōrēs nōn fēcērunt quō īrent. Lātiōrēs tamen regiōnēs petunt atque sine dubiō per prōvinciam Romānam iter facere cōnābuntur. Itaque ad tē contendimus ut tē dē hīs rēbus certiōrem facerēmus.”

Complete the translations with the words and phrases listed below.

[1] Cognōscunt eōs multīs aliīs gentibus persuādēre ut sē sociōs coniungant et ex fīnibus suīs ēgrediantur.

They learn that (1) __________  many other tribes (2) __________  them as allies and (3) __________  their territories.

[2] Timent nē Helvētiī sociīs Rōmānīs maximē noceant.

(1) __________ the Helvetii (2) __________  greatly  __________  the Roman allies.

[3] Itaque magnā cum celeritāte Rōmam contendunt ut cum Caesare conloquantur.

Therefore they hurry to Rome with great speed (1) __________ (2) __________ with Caesar.

[4] Libenter tē certiōrem faciēmus cūr perturbēmur.

(1) __________ gladly  __________  you (2) __________.

[5] Rogāsne cūr Helvētiī ēgredī statuerint?

Are you asking (1) __________  the Helvetii (2) __________  to leave?

[6] Rogāsne quantum numerum carrōrum et iūmentōrum ēmerint?

Are you asking (1) __________ a number of wagons and pack animals (2) __________?

[7] Prīmō nōn intellēximus cūr ex suīs fīnibus ēgredī statuissent, et cūr tantum numerum carrōrum et iūmentōrum ēmissent.

At first (1) __________ (2) __________ to leave their territory, and (3) __________ so great a number of wagons and pack animals.

[8] Itaque ā nostrīs amīcīs Helvēticīs quaesīvimus quae Helvētiī facerent.

Therefore (1) __________ our Helvetian friends (2) __________ the Helvetii (3) __________.

[9] Tum Caesar ipse perturbāus quaesīvit quae repperissent.

Then Caesar himself, disturbed, asked __________.

[10] Cōnstituērunt igitur domō exīre ut regiōnibus sibi idōneīs potīrentur.

Therefore they decided to leave home (1) __________ (2) __________ of regions suitable for themselves.

[11] Rogāsne num per prōvinciam Rōmānam eant?

Are you asking (1) __________  (2) __________ through the Roman province?

[12] Amīcī nostrī nōs certiōrēs nōn fēcērunt quō īrent.

Our friends (1) __________  us (2) __________  (3) __________.

[13] Itaque ad tē contendimus ut tē dē hīs rēbus certiōrem facerēmus.

Therefore we hurried to you  __________ about these matters.

they are persuading

they fear that

we did not understand

we asked

did not inform

we will … inform

__________

may … harm

they have obtained

were doing

they might gain possession

decided

they are going

they were going (to)

__________

in order

in order to inform you

so that

__________

what

what they had discovered

whether

where

why

why we are troubled

why they had sent out

why they had decided

how large

__________

to join

to leave

to speak

____________________

[1] They learn that (1) they are persuading many other tribes (2) to join them as allies and (3) to leave their territories.

[2] (1) They fear that the Helvetii (2) may greatly harm the Roman allies.

[3] Therefore they hurry to Rome with great speed (1) in order (2) to speak with Caesar.

[4] (1) We will gladly inform you (2) why we are troubled.

[5] Are you asking (1) why the Helvetii (2) decided to leave?

[6] Are you asking (1) how large a number of wagons and pack animals (2) they have obtained?

[7] At first (1) we did not understand (2) why they had decided to leave their territory, and (3) why they had sent out so great a number of wagons and pack animals.

[8] Therefore (1) we asked our Helvetian friends (2) what the Helvetii (3) were doing.

[9] Then Caesar himself, disturbed, asked what they had discovered.

[10] Therefore they decided to leave home (1) so that (2) they might gain possession of regions suitable for themselves.

[11] Are you asking (1) whether (2) they are going through the Roman province?

[12] Our friends (1) did not inform us (2) where (3) they were going (to).

[13] Therefore we hurried to you in order to inform you about these matters.