Lectiones Antiquae
Ἐν γράμμασι καλόν
Why to speak Latin and Greek?
Western Civilization is based on three columns: Greek philosophy, Roman law, and Christianity. If we want to understand the origins of our political, moral, philosophical, and theological ideas more profoundly, which shape not only our society, but even everyday thoughts and basic emotional reactions, we have to look at their source as they've been brought to us in their original form.
How many ideas do you have that you do not know where they come from? We've all absorbed many of them from our cultural backgrounds, but shouldn't we look for their origins and learn what the great minds of our history have said about them?
What better way would there be of developing the mental acuity to judge what we've been absorbing without any discrimation for years since our childhood? Today's Western societies are established in a certain way and certain ideas circulate in it. Were things always as they are now? Where and when did it all started? What great souls have lived and what examples have they left to us throughout the centuries? In how many ways did other people describe the beauties and horrors of life and death? How did the great poets of the past sing them? These are the questions that inflammed me when I was younger and because of which I started this journey.
My mission is to help others to acquire the tools that they need to inquire the same things and enjoy our cultural heritage in a conscious way.
Arthur Schopenhauer states in his book The Art of Literature: "Latin is not only a key to the knowledge of Roman antiquity; it also directly opens up to us the Middle Age in every country in Europe, and modern times as well, down to about the year 1750. Erigena, for example, in the ninth century, John of Salisbury in the twelfth, Raimond Lully in the thirteenth, with a hundred others, speak straight to us in the very language that they naturally adopted in thinking of learned matters."
Although Latin has historically had more influence than Greek in many European countries, Greek gives us direct access to Athenian democracy, the Hellenistic period, and the Roman Empire up until the Fall of Constantinople. It also opens the door to everything written in καθαρεύουσα during the 19th and 20th centuries, and it facilitates the acquisition of Modern Greek (Demotic) as well.
Lessons and Method
Latin for beginners
The lessons for beginners are based in the first volume of the series Lingua Latīna Per Sē Illūstrāta, the Familia Rōmāna. In it, we follow along the daily life of Julius, a Roman master, and his family.
In each chapter, new words and more complex structrues are presented to the student, while the I explain grammatical elements and stimulate a conversation in Latin.
I use both classical and ecclesiastical pronunciations, according to the students needs and preferences.
Latin for intermediate students
The lessons for intermediate students are based on the second volume of the same series, the Rōma Aeterna.
In it, we read about Rome's history from its origin until the days of Julius Caesar.
We shall also use other books, such as Epitome Historiae Sacrae, Fabulae Syrae, Ad Alpes, and Fabulae Faciles.
At this point, I make my students to start writing paraphrases of simple texts, such as the Vulgate, so that they may start noticing – with their own hands! – differences and nuances of style.
Latin for advanced students
The lessons for advanced students are based on passages drawn from authors who are of special interest to the student.
We may read classical authors, such as Cicero, Julius Caesar and Seneca; christian authors, such as St. Augustin, St. Ambrose, and Boethius; medieval philosophers, such as St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Bonaventure; renaissance or modern authors such as Erasmus, Martin Luther, the Jesuits, Descartes, Calvin, Galileo, Isaac Newton, among so many others who wrote their works in Latin!
Ancient Greek for beginners
Greek lessons for beginners are based primarily on the first volume of the Athenaze series, where we follow the daily life of Diceopolis, an Athenian farmer, and his family.
Its structure is similar to that of LLPSI, with each chapter introducing new vocabulary and new grammatical elements, along with insights into Greek culture of the period.
In these lessons, I follow the approach used by the majority of Greek teachers for centuries in Greece, employing the living pronunciation of Ancient Greek. This method makes it easier to trace the origins of today’s language and appreciate its connection to the past.
Latest video:
Values and Disponibility
The trial lesson is free.
It lasts 30 minutes. In it, we get to know each other (feel free to ask any question you want). Also, I give a demonstration of my method and get to know your needs and expectations! At last, I furnish the details about payment
N. B.: Please cancel the lesson previously in case you cannot attend it. After waiting for 10 minutes, I shall leave the lesson and shall consider the lesson as given.
If the student wishes to proceed, here are the options:
1. One lesson for $20.
2. Four lessons: $75.
3. Eight lessons: $128.
Schedule a free trial lesson selecting one of the slots available on my Google Agenda.
Please, present yourself in one of the languages I understand (English, Latin, Portuguese, Italian, French, Modern Greek) and tell me what language you would like to learn (Latin or Ancient Greek).
When our meeting is scheduled, I will send an email to you confirming it.
