I'm drawing together a style of presenting Latin in a form inspired by retro gaming.

The study of Latin through inscriptions in particular presents a real, tangible experience of Latin which otherwise can appear excessively high-minded and impenetrable. I hope my pixel-art helps to rectify this view while making the language clear and accessible – without the risk of being buried in grammar!

Most epitaph inscriptions of the Imperial period included some variation of Dis Manibus - "to the deified spirits of the dead." We’re in the spooky season after all and so examining gravestones as primary sources of evidence is eerily appropriate…

Over the next few weeks – in the run up to Hallowe’en and my first video upload – I’ll be posting a few Latin quotes pertaining to the ‘manes’ in Roman thought. The deification of the dead as ‘manes’ or, ‘spirits’ that bore influence over the living was the dominant Roman view of death and the afterlife.

Please give me your impressions - I think there's still plenty of scope for originality even when the source material is thousands of years old!

‘hic manes, hic intra tecta tenebo’ (Silvae, 3.3.196)

“I will hold your manes here, here within the house” (translated by Charles W. King)

The quote above from Statius' Silvae comes from a collection of short poems offering consolations for the dead. While the ‘manes’ – spirits of the dead – were worshipped collectively at official festivals like the Parentalia, Statius provides an intimate glimpse into private occasions such as worshipping an individual person with perfumes and flowers at a household shrine despite the fact manes only exists as a plural noun.

In a longer translation for D. R. Shackleton Bailey, we read in the next line:

'hic manes, hic intra tecta tenebo. tu custos dominusque laris, tibi cuncta tuorum parebunt'

“Here I shall keep you spirit, within these walls. You shall be guardian and master of the hearth, all your folk shall obey you.”

The use of the second person singular in phrases like tu custos and tibi cuncta can only confirm the individuality of one, singular spirit that remains with an indelible force to guard and watch over the house.

Contrast this ghostly apparition with Tranio’s invention in the Mostellaria. Here (lines. 495-505), the deceased has allegedly remained to haunt the house precisely because they were denied their due rites after death. In both instances, the individual spirit of the dead persists regardless, either as a venerated protector of hearth and home or, as an invocation of duties that should have been paid to the dead but were violated…

Hi everyone.
I'm posting this image to hopefully generate some comments and feedback. Art crits more than welcome.

I'm drawing together a style of presenting Latin in a form inspired by retro gaming.

The study of Latin through inscriptions in particular presents a real, tangible experience of Latin which otherwise can appear excessively high-minded and impenetrable. I hope my pixel-art helps to rectify this view while making the language clear and accessible – without the risk of being buried in grammar!

Most epitaph inscriptions of the Imperial period included some variation of Dis Manibus - "to the deified spirits of the dead." We’re in the spooky season after all and so examining gravestones as primary sources of evidence is eerily appropriate…

Please give me your impressions - I think there's still plenty of scope for originality even when the source material is thousands of years old!

si quis piorum manibus locus (Agricola, .46)
"if any place exists for the manes of the pious" (translated by Charles W. King)

From the above quote, Tacitus’ tentative hope for a comfortable home in the afterlife for his dead father-in-law speaks to a singular understanding of ‘manes’, a word that nevertheless appears only as a plural noun. This linguistic quirk begs the question whether Romans worshipped the dead as a collective or if the individual dead were singled out for particular rites. A more complete translation of the passage from Mattingly (1948) reads:

"If there is any mansion for the spirits of the just, if, as the wise aver, great souls do not perish with the body, quiet, O Father, be your rest!"

This direct appeal to Agricola’s ghost would seem to substantiate an individual ‘manes’ reading.

R5: I’m back at it again, drawing all the Roman Emperors. I took a long break and experimented with new brushes which is why they probably look worse towards the end.

Friends, Romans, countrymen.

This weekend past I attempted to tour the Fortress and settlement at Carnuntum. However, the road was impassable and instead I decided to take in the barbarian encampment called Vienna. I had heard they appreciated Roman culture, but I was unprepared for what I saw.

I must laud their artisans, for the sculpture was exquisite; yet, there was no colour anywhere. Everywhere I looked it was white upon white upon white. Saving only coppered roofs.

The 'Palace' that the barbarians had created was indeed grandiose, but I would much prefer even a modest Roman Villa given the option. Pillars everywhere. But nonsensically, used as decoration only, and in one room, they had pillars, and molding, and intricate marble carving, *indoors*?!

Clearly the barbarians know of, and appreciate good Roman culture, but didnt understand any of it.

There was more, of course, the whole experience was like looking in a bronze mirror: distorted, and not quite right.

Roma Eterna my friends. It was certainly nice to return home.