“Habeas corpus” is part of a broader Latin phrase: habeas corpus ad subiiciendum et recipiendum. Its literal translation would be “keep the body to put it in hand (of law) and re-take it.
Place of Care of the Soul: ψυχῆς ἰατρείον (psychés iatreíon)
Libraries are “points of care of the soul.” This is a curious phrase, full of content, and that we like. It is originated on the label that allegedly existed in the “Sacred Library” of the temple and tomb of Pharaoh Ramses. But perhaps what is really behind the famous phrase is a historical misunderstanding.
The ancient Romans computed and digitized over two thousand years ago.
Few words are of more contemporary use than “compute, computer, and digital”. Well, “compute, computing” are Latin words meaning of course calculating, counting, computing.
Catullus and Safo
Catullus was a poet born in Verona in the year 84 BC, in a wealthy family friend of Julius Caesar. He went young to Rome, like many others, with the intention to enter politics, but what was devoted to poetry
The three wise men (the three Magi)
The birth of Jesus is celebrated in the West December 25. That birth is celebrated for a long time in Christendom and still currently in the Orthodox Church on January 6. But in the Catholic Church is celebrated now on January 6 the day of “epiphany” or manifestation of Jesus. According to the Gospel of St. Matthew 2: 1-12, some wise men came from the East to offer the newborn baby Jesus gold, frankincense and myrrh. Hence comes the custom in some countries, as in Spain, of gave gifts to children on the night of January 5.
XENIA, APOPHORETA (gifts)
Xenia and Apophoreta are the names of two of the books of Epigrams by Marcus Valerius Martial (40-104), specifically the books XIII and XIV.
Importance of music in the ancient Greek world
Most of the linguistic terms used in “music” are of Greek origin.
Perseus and Andromeda
The myth of Perseus and Andromeda is one of the best known and longest survival, in fact, wearing another garment, it continues today.
The Last Day of Pompeii
The lively city of Pompeii was located at the foot of Mount and Volcano Vesuvius in a rich and fertile place. Its 20,000 inhabitants were not aware of the tremendous danger looming over them. (Interestingly in Latin there is not a specific term to designate volcanoes; they call them “mons sulfureus”= “sulfur mountains” or with some similar name).
The names of the months are Roman
Among the many things that the Romans have left us no less important is the calendar with the names of the months, days and seasons. To understand the logic and coherence of the names “september= September; october= October; november= November and december= December,” which etymologically means “seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth” we must know that the primitive Roman year had ten months and began in March.