Latin
Lines 1.1-1.21
Virginia Certamen Questions, Round One 1.1-21
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2002 Ad Fontes Certamen
Level I -Round I
1. This past Thursday was a special day for lovers, the day of St. Valentine. What is the verb to love in Latin? amo, amare (accept either)
Bonus: Amor vincit omnia -love conquers all -is a famous phrase. But I like this one: amor vivit semper . What does that mean? Love lives forever (always).
2. Venus, the Roman goddess of love, was very protective of her son. Who was he? Cupid.
Bonus: Now Venus had another name among the Greeks, and so did her son. What did they call this couple? Aphrodite and Eros.
3. Which one of the following does not belong and why? amor, cupidus, Venus, voluptas . cupidus /second declension.
Bonus: There are many verbs connected with love, and one the base of Cupids name. What is the verb for to desire? Cupio, cupire (accept either).
4. Who am I? I attempted to ensnare three powerful Romans, and was successful with two. I had a son by the first, before he was foully murdered. The second was defeated at Actium despite the assistance of my navy. Alas, I was unable to woo his conqueror, who wanted to lead mea queen of Eygpt! in his triumph. Cleopatra.
Bonus: Who was that third Roman with whom Cleopatra was unsuccessful? Octavian/Augutus.
5. Change amant to the imperfect tense. amabant.
Bonus: Now change that to the passive. amabantur.
6. I was the son of Cephisus and the nymph Liriope. I was stooping down to drink from a stream, when I fell in love with my own reflection. Narcissus.
Bonus: Echo, of course, pined away for me. But who took away from her the ability to speak, leaving only an ability to repeat the words of others? Juno (Hera).