By Roman Hands: Inscriptions and Graffiti for Students of Latin

(Paperback, Second Edition)

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Description

By Roman Hands takes Latin out of the textbook and allows students to see and translate Latin as it actually appeared on Roman monuments, walls and tombs. The first collection of entirely authentic and un-adapted inscriptions and graffiti accessible to beginning and intermediate students of Latin, By Roman Hands unites the study of language and culture in a novel and compelling way and at a level that the Latin can be grasped and discussed by early Latin learners. Ranging from a love letter hastily scratched on a Pompeian wall to the proclamation of an emperor's achievements formally inscribed on a monumental arch, these carefully selected texts afford fascinating glimpses into the lives and minds of the Romans, even as they illustrate and reinforce the basic elements of the Latin language. This edition, revised to work in parallel with the second edition of Susan Shelmerdine' s Introduction to Latin or any standard beginning Latin text, includes more texts and illustrations, and an additional section of inscriptions for practice and review.

Reviews

Review of the first edition: "The book is neatly printed and is likely to turn out to be pleasant and instructive to use in class if the teacher gives it careful preparation in advance. The indexes could be exploited in interesting ways, since (for example) not all the illuminating uses of the ablative occur in the section entitled 'Ablative'. And it is always worth reminding students at more advanced levels that the great literature in what we call 'Classical' Latin was a marked genre and a minority sport of the erudite, and that Latin as a whole (what used to be called 'Vulgar Latin' until it became obvious that everybody used it) was rather different. Those with a particular interest in inscriptions will find this book useful too." - Roger Wright, Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2009.01.44

Author Bio

Matthew Hartnett teaches Latin and Greek at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. He holds a B.A. in Classical Studies from the College of William and Mary and a Ph.D. in Classics from Columbia University. In 2006 he received the Matthew I. Wiencke Teaching Award from the Classical Association of New England.