Conversational Latin/Roman Names

Salvete!
We had a great time last night during the conversational Latin hour. Students were very interested in obtaining Roman names, so I thought I might talk a bit about Roman names within my blog.

The Romans were not very creative with their names. In fact, when you go to Rome itself you will see that they do not, even to this day, spend a lot of time thinking about names. :)

There were a handful of praenomina,i.e. first names, for boys. First names for boys included Aulus, Decimus, Gaius, Gnaeus, Kaeso, Lucius, Manius, Marcus, Publius, Quintus, Dervius, Sextus, Spurius, Tiberius and Titus. Each of these names could be abbreviated. The praenomen is how a person would be addressed by his friends.

The nomen was the family name. Most nomina end in -ius or some variation of -ius. Everyone connected with that family, even slaves, would have that nomen. If a plebeian and a patrician were affiliated in a family, they would all have this all-important name.

The cognomen separated the different strands of the family. Each branch had its own cognomen. The original cognomen referred back to the original tribes of Rome. People who belonged to those tribes were old Romans! Other cognomina included both physical traits such as Albus (White), Barbatus (bearded), Claudus (Limping), Longus (Tall), Naso (Nose), Capito (Head), Ventro (Belly). Publius Ovidius Naso's family was known for their big noses. :)
What would your family's cognomen be?

Girls took the feminine form of their father's nomen. A man names Iulius would have a daughter names Iulia. If he had more than one daughter, they would be named Iulia Prima, Iulia Secunda, etc.

For more information on Roman names, go to this site:
http://www.novaroma.org/wiki/Choosing_a_Roman_name

Gratias!
Kathy Sheppard

Conversational Latin class

On Tuesday April 20 at 8:00 PM EST, I shall be having a conversational Latin class. We shall be discussing responses to the question, "Quomodo agis?"

Please join!

Registration is open for classes!

Registration is now open for my 2010-2011 camps and classes! Please see my website (www.latinandclassics.com) for more information!

REGISTRATION FOR CAMP

Please copy and paste this into an e-mail or into a Word document:
Child's Name and Age--
2nd Child's Name and Age(if enrolled in camp)--
Parents' Names--
Camp--
June 15-19--In-person Fredericksburg, VA
July 6-10--In-person Fredericksburg, VA
June 29-July 3--Online
Other online camp--dates TBA
Address--
Phone Number--
E-mail Address--

Space is limited--camps will only hold 15-20 students! You may pay in two ways: Go to paypal and request to "Send money" to magistrasheppard@aol.com . OR You may make your checks payable to Kathy Sheppard and mail them to Kathy Sheppard (28498 Morel Way Rhoadesville, VA 22542). You are not officially registered until payment is made (unless arrangements are made with me).

ONLINE LATIN CAMP

I am planning an online Latin camp for June 29--July 3 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST!
The cost will be $75 with a $10 registration/supply fee.
Students will review Latin grammar and ending as well as learn about Roman culture.
Choose your own Latin name!
Learn how the Romans picked a wedding day!
Find out how the Romans washed their clothes (you won't believe it)!
Please e-mail me to register!

Latin Summer Camps

Latin Summer Camps
Dates: June 15-19, 2009 OR July 6--10, 2009. I may add another week if necessary! I may also do an online camp!
Time: 9:00am- 1:00pm Bring a bag lunch (except for Friday when we shall eat aRoman lunch!)Who: children ages 9 and up
Where: Fredericksburg Church of Christ 336 Riverside Drive Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Cost: $100 per student plus $25 supply fee. Discounts given to two students whose parents might help with the camp (must be willing to eat lunch with the students, clean up, perform administrative tasks, etc.). Please apply for positions.

Learn the basis for all Romance languages and the language from whichEnglish gets 52.6% of words!
Make your own mosaic!
Clean and identify your own Roman coin!
Make your own toga or stola!
Eat a Roman lunch!
Be able to translate Latin sentences in a week!
Learn first, second, and third declensions and three verb tenses!
Glean a better knowledge of English!

Summer Camps

Summer Camps for Latin students 8 - 14 years old

9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
in Fredericksburg, Virginia

June 15 - 19th
and
July 6th - July 10th

Description and more details coming!!!