Introduction (new member)

[ChoraulaSilens]

I used to be on a site called Ancient Classical History in the 1990s. I drifted from Latin totally for some years but am presently quite keen on it. My focus has been on Apuleius and Neo Platonism and it's a bit odd that I learned Neo Platonist philosophy from Latin, not English or Greek. So, maybe the same way as a Latin speaking student in the second or third century. I take the philosophy angle quite seriously so have read much of Apuleius. Also I tackled Satyricon, and the Historia Augusta. My approach is I use Latin to relax and find it relaxing.
Finally, my view is Latin is very hard due to the extensive vocab and the "overlap" in many words i.e. "cupis" from "cupa, cupae").
So ends my intro. Maybe someone recalls the now very dated "Latin With Zozimus" from the A.C.H. site of the 1990s?

 

[Pacifica]

Welcome!

 

[Iáson]

saluē!

 

[ChoraulaSilens]

Welcome!

Thanks. I thought I'd just do a brief intro.

 

[ChoraulaSilens]

My user name comes from the film "The Silent Flute" that starred David Carradine (as the wandering flute player). It was a philosophy based movie.
Currently I've been working hard on The Apology by Apuleius, which is less known than Metamorphosis. I made a database dictionary in the process for parts of the text.
Other than that, I love cats and have a Chartreux grey cat who follows me about everywhere (and sleeps on my pillow).

 

[Pacifica]

Other than that, I love cats and have a Chartreux grey cat who follows me about everywhere (and sleeps on my pillow).

You also seem to have a dog; or is that not your dog?

 

[Avunculus H]

Welcome!

 

[ChoraulaSilens]

You also seem to have a dog; or is that not your dog?

My dog passed away at 13 some years ago and I was very upset. I felt like having another dog would be like replacing a soulmate. He loved to chase cats oddly enough. My cat just appeared one day and that was a whole new learning curve. Strangely, my cat has much in common with my dog. Both known to charge the food dish before it gets properly stirred. Like a charging bull you could say.
Very many people dislike cats but I learned cats aren't as aloof as they seem to be. Mine is very affectionate and follows me about. They are also smarter than imagined although a cats associative thinking isn't that evolved (that is they don't coordinate their thoughts to fit in with others). Put simply, my cat can grab my spot should I get up to make a coffee.

 

[ChoraulaSilens]

Some may be aware that "catus" in Latin means "astute". "Pusillus" also means "small". "Faeles" appears to be the most usual definition - sometimes I think mine is a "faeles silvestris" by nature.

 

[Quaeso]

Welcome!

 

[Quaeso]

My approach is I use Latin to relax and find it relaxing.

It looks like you are proficient in Latin, but is this statement of yours with which you introduced yourself in your introduction a hebraism from Hebrew grammar?

 

[ChoraulaSilens]

It looks like you are proficient in Latin, but is this statement of yours with which you introduced yourself in your introduction a hebraism from Hebrew grammar?

Not at all. The thing is studying either philosophy, or an ancient language, involves no physical, dexterity challenge (such as mechanical work). You can just sit with your cat in peace and a mug of coffee. It's how I relax.
As to my level, the truth is Latin doesn't come easy to me and always gave me problems. I find the writers could be a bit vague but that's just my own feeling. I find you tend to get used to a particular writer over time and I have read lots of Apuleius, though not Metamorphosis.

 

[Quaeso]

Pardon me, I should have read your post more carefully. But that is interesting about Philosophy, what does Apuleius write about? and did you read it in Latin or another language?

 

[ChoraulaSilens]

Pardon me, I should have read your post more carefully. But that is interesting about Philosophy, what does Apuleius write about? and did you read it in Latin or another language?

Judging by your profile location, it might interest you to know "Dakota" is also
the name of Chuck Norris's son.
Philosophy you will know was huge in the Roman world, especially since many believed lifestyle philosophies could bring you health and equilibrium. These philosophies also taught ethics and values, being in harmony with nature.
Apuleius has had me intrigued for some time. At some point, he converted to Neo-Platonism but, from his writings, I assume he had been very into pagan religions, even mystery cults. Anyone who likes something different from the norm might find "Apologia" worth reading in Latin. It's a bit easier than Metamorphosis and can be divided into sections. It seems clear to me that Apuleius had fallen victim to bad company and social suspicion towards "cranky" philosophers and semi loners. Some of it harks back to Salem (Apuleius was accused of using sorcery to inherit family wealth). Apologia is also an example of civil law defence and shows how family wills caused as many wrangles back then as they do today.

 

[Pacifica]

I too found the Apologia pretty interesting.

 

[ChoraulaSilens]

I too found the Apologia pretty interesting.

This is because these were real people who existed. For example, Pudentilla, who represents how women were often controlled by male relatives, (in inheritance of property, for example). Herrenius Rufinus is also striking. Seems like he was very manipulative and money grabbing. Pontianus was seemingly vulnerable to manipulation. For me, they all seem very real people but it also seems Apuleius had gotten himself into major strife over his marriage to Pudentilla.

 

[Quaeso]

Chuck Norris

When I was in the public schools, my classmates would often imitate Chuck Norris. He starred in a show on USA network called Walker: Texas Ranger. He was like a sheriff with a revolver and a mullet haircut who knew Chinese Karate, it was all very 80's. He was always super serious like Stephen Seagal, but I guess that I wasn't really a big fan. I was too busy watching Gundum Wing and playing Pokemon on Gameboy back in 1997. Of course I should have been learning French and Latin instead...

 

[ChoraulaSilens]

When I was in the public schools, my classmates would often imitate Chuck Norris. He starred in a show on USA network called Walker: Texas Ranger. He was like a sheriff with a revolver and a mullet haircut who knew Chinese Karate, it was all very 80's. He was always super serious like Stephen Seagal, but I guess that I wasn't really a big fan. I was too busy watching Gundum Wing and playing Pokemon on Gameboy back in 1997. Of course I should have been learning French and Latin instead...

There's an idea. Converting Chuck Norris jokes into Latin. There are thousands of these jokes, such as "Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door." I invented one that, to my surprise, no Chuck Norris fan ever got. "Chuck Norris once stepped into the same river twice!" Both Bruce Lee and David Carradine would have understood this joke. Worth watching is the movie "The Silent Flute" which is a martial arts philosophy film, although Chuck Norris isn't in it.

 

[Godmy]

Salvē!

 

[Quaeso]

the movie "The Silent Flute"

I wondered if that was where your user name: ChoraulaSilens was from. Maybe I'll watch it, what do you like about it? The Eastern Philosophy aspect?