SPRING 1994 LATIN 102 FINAL EXAMINATION Dr. Gaichas

This passage is taken from the Vitae, written by Cornelius Nepos. It describes the decision of Darius, the king of Persia, to invade Greece in 490 B.C. Bold words are new vocabulary given beneath the passage. Italicized words are given in terms of their familiar cognates.

1 Darius autem, ut ex Europa in Asiam redivit, amicis hortantibus,

2 ut Graeciam redigeret in suam potestatem, classem quingentarum

3 navium paravit eique Datim praefecit et Artaphernem his copiis--

4 ducenta peditum, decem milia equitum-- praefecit, dicens se hostem esse

5 contra Athenienses, quia, eorum auxilio, Iones Sardis Perseos vicissent

6 suaque praesidia interfecissent. Classe ad Euboeam appulsa, illi praefecti

7 celeriter Eretriam ceperunt omnesque eius gentis cives Athenienses

8 abreptos in Asiam ad regem miserunt. Inde ad Atticam accesserunt ac

9 suas copias in campum Marathona duxerunt. ( Hic campus est ab oppido

10 circiter milia passuum decem.) Athenienses tam periculo propinquo

11 tamque magno permoti auxilium a Lacedaemoniis petiverunt

12 Phidippidumque cursorem eius generis, qui hemerodromoe uocantur,

13 ad Lacedaemonem miserunt, qui nuntiaret quam celerrime opus esset auxilio.

Click here for the translation

 Special vocabulary is listed in alphabetical order.

abreptos: dragged off

(<ad + cedo)

(< ad + pello)

Artaphernes, M.: a Persian general named Artaphernes

Athenienses, adj: the Athenians

Attica, -ae, F.:the area around Athens

classis, -is, F.: a naval fleet

cursor, cursoris, M.: a runner

Darius: Darius, the king of Persia

Datis, -is, M.: another Persian general named Datis

decem milia equitum: 10,000 horsemen or cavalry

ducenta peditum: 200 [repeat the milia ] infantry, thus 200,000

Eretria, -ae, F.: the capital city --Eretria --of the island of Euboea

Euboea, -ae, F.: the island of Euboea, Northeast of Attica

Graecia, -ae,F.: Greece, the Greek peninsula

hemerodromoe, M.: couriers, runners [<the Greek words 'day'-'runner']

Iones, adj.: the Ionians, inhabitants of Ionia, which was on the western edge of Persia

Lacedaemon, F.: the city Sparta, in the Greek country Sparta

Lacedaemonius-a-um, adj: the Spartans, the famous warriors of antiquity

Marathona, acc: Marathon, a city in Attica on a plain near the sea.

milia passuum,: a thousand paces, or a mile

nuntiaret: < to inform, report

(< per- {thoroughly} + movere)

Phidippidus, -i, M.: Phidippides, the runner's name

praesidia, -orum, N.: garrisons, i.e., troops occupying the town

propinquus-a-um, adj.: close by

quingentarum, adj.: 500

redigeret : render, reduce

Sardis: [a 3rd declension proper noun.] the capital city, Sardis, in Lydia; occupied by the Persians