1) the Latin language: only the idiom of the region Latium, but together with the Idea of the State the Romish idiom became the normative language for the west part of the Roman Empire, especially for Iberia, North Africa, the region around the Black See. The Rumanian language of today is developed from Latin. The development of the Latin language to its classic form as a normative language of the Empire includes the "Rhotacism" ('s' between vocals is substituted by 'r'); the disappearance of Diphthongs; the three verbal forms of the Indo-German language family, which survive in Greek, were reduced: the aorists were reduced to the present and perfect forms; the grammar became more strict.
2) the begin of the Romish literature: 240 before Christus with the translation of Greek comedies and tragedies. Greeks began to settle down in Italy and had a large influence on the Etruscan culture. The Romans didn't have their own myths and thus the Greek literature must have had also an influence on the development of the Roman religion. Also the Lex XII tabularum was the result of the influence of Greek culture. The Romish religion is more abstract, the gods were identified with their power and acts, while the Greek religion is more anthropomorphic. The symbols of the power: faces, lictores and the sella curulis go back to the Etruscan influence. Livius wrote about the Etruscan people: "Gens ante omnes alias eo magis dedita religionibus, quod excelleret arte colendi eas". The fights of the gladiators also go back to Etruscan customs. Before the direct influence of the Greeks the Romans didn't know the difference between proses and poetry. They used rhythmic lines in the proses, and called text written in such a way "Carmen". One kind of verses was known: versus Saturnius (allusion of the Golden age), which was used by Livius Andronicus and Naevius. But Ennius substituted it through the Greek hexameter. Two examples of the Versus Saturnius: "Adesto, Tiberine, cum tuis undis" (a prayer) and "Virum mihi, Camena insece versutum" (the translation of "Odysseus" by Livius Andronicus). Other kinds of literature: nenia, accompanied by flute, lamentation of the dead; heroic songs, sung at the meal, and harvest songs. Besides these one can also find the Fabula Atellana, the Laudatio Funebris (a specific Roman genre), and the Annales.
3) the development of the Romish Literature after the muster of the Greek literature: ludi Romani - ludi scaenici (theatre plays). The school system of the Greeks: all children could learn gymnastics, music, writing, reading and calculating. Children from better families could go later to school to learn literature, grammar and stile. Later, a small number of privileged young men could learn rhetoric. The Romans copied this kind of school system. The Roman schools were private, while the theatre plays were organised by the State. Not only in these two domains did the Greek culture influence the Roman culture, but also regarding the Roman customs.
(To be continued)
My name is actually Douglas Nelson but use mcspud1947 for online responses to newspaper articles.
ReplyDeleteI would like to say how much I am enjoying reading your " notes on books ". I found it from a link in the Independent newspaper comments on a recent article. Although in no means a religious person, I do delight in reading your explanations and thoughts on that which you are reading.
Kindest wishes,
Douglas