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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture Dear medieval-religion colleagues, I thought this recent article from *The Times* [the real one, not that American pretender :-) ] would be of interest, given how many of us are Latinists. Despite what is in it for the book shops as mentioned below, it is heartening to see these shops as cultural motors, isn't it? Best wishes, George * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * George Ferzoco School of Modern Languages, University of Leicester, University Road, LEICESTER LE1 7RH, UNITED KINGDOM office telephone ++ 44 (0)116 252 2654 secretaries' tel ++ 44 (0)116 252 2683 / fax ++ 44 (0)116 252 3633 e-mail [log in to unmask] list owner, medieval-religion: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * April 29, 2004 When in Rome, speak as the Romans did By Richard Owen, The Times HELP is at hand for anyone who has visited Rome and despaired at all those awkward, ancient inscriptions. From next month the Italian authorities are to offer free Latin lessons for foreigners, aimed mainly at the British, Americans and French. Tourists with a thirst for self-improvement will be able to duck into a bookshop and take a crash course in Latin and ancient Roman culture. The idea was partly inspired by the box office success of Mel Gibson's The Passion, filmed in Latin and Aramaic, Aroldo Barbieri, Professor of Latin at Rome University, said. He added that many Americans are also "fascinated by parallels between the modern American empire and the Roman Empire", spelt out in bestsellers such as Robert Harris's Pompeii. In other words, "Latinum mortuum non est", as Il Giornale put it. "Even those of us who learnt some Latin at school tend to have forgotten much of it", said Daniele Ciccaglioni, who runs a bookshop with a downstairs lecture theatre where Professor Barbieri and other scholars are to hold their "lighthearted" lessons. Around 14 other bookshops around the city are also participating in the scheme. There are about 50,000 Latin inscriptions in Rome, not to mention Latin memorials in medieval churches and slogans carved in stone dating to the Fascist period, when Mussolini sought to revive lost Roman glory. A revival of Latin is underway: the Vatican has issued a modern Latin dictionary, with "sideralis navis" for spaceship, "pediludium" for football, "praecipua scaenica actrix" for female television presenter and "instrumentum telehornamentis exceptorium" for videotape. Four years ago the Pope unveiled a tablet in Latin inaugurating a multistorey car park near St Peter's. Maurizio Trebbi, Professor of drama at Rome University, said the courses - in three two-hour "digestible" segments - would include an intensive but "fun" introduction to history, food, dress, and entertainment as well as classical writers such as Petronius and Suetonius. ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html