Flavia Gemina Posted July 18, 2007 Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 Salvete, Omnes! The producer of the TV series (which is not "mine" but is based on my books) is in the middle of going through the screenplays for season 2. She noticed one of the screenwriters using insults like 'idiots' and 'morons' and thought these sounded quite modern. (The screenwriters have totally changed my stories so no point me referring to the original source...) She asked me to come up with some more 'authentic' Roman insults. I suggested 'blockheads!', 'plebs!', 'barbarians!' and 'peasants!'. Any other suggestions? Remember: it's a TV series for kids! Flavia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nephele Posted July 18, 2007 Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 Flavia, try this link. I'm not certain if these are genuine ancient Roman insults, or merely modern-day insults translated into Latin. I'm inclined to believe that they may be genuine ancient Roman insults, because one doesn't usually hear "you pumpkin!" and "you mushrooms!" hurled at folks nowadays. "Spurcifer!" is my favorite. What a great screen name that would make! Heheh, I remember your character of Flavia calling another character "Asine!" in one of your books. -- Nephele Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pertinax Posted July 18, 2007 Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 "You Mushrooms" ...now that I shall use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flavia Gemina Posted July 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 Flavia, try this link... -- Nephele Superb! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ASCLEPIADES Posted July 18, 2007 Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 Salve, guys and Ladies. I think that for newbies, this migth be a good LIST. (Un)fortunately, the site's language is German. Excuse me, but I would prefer not to add the translation. Anyway, I hope you find it useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaius Paulinus Maximus Posted July 18, 2007 Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 my favorites..... spurcifer! scumbucket! ("bearer-of-filth") nugae! gerrae! fabulae! nonsense! poppycock! fiddlesticks! I'll be using some of these at work later ........."What do you mean you can't do it?? nugae! gerrae! fabulae! Get back to work you spurcifer!!!" Thanks Nephele. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Porcius Cato Posted July 18, 2007 Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 "You blocks! You stones! You worse than senseless things!" -- my favorite curse while driving in traffic. From the original Shakespeare (Julius Caesar, Act I, Sc I): Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home? What tributaries follow him to Rome, To grace in captive bonds his chariot-wheels? You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things! O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft Have you climb'd up to walls and battlements, To towers and windows, yea, to chimney-tops, Your infants in your arms, and there have sat The livelong day, with patient expectation, To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome: And when you saw his chariot but appear, Have you not made an universal shout, That Tiber trembled underneath her banks, To hear the replication of your sounds Made in her concave shores? And do you now put on your best attire? And do you now cull out a holiday? And do you now strew flowers in his way That comes in triumph over Pompey's blood? Be gone! Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, Pray to the gods to intermit the plague That needs must light on this ingratitude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flavia Gemina Posted July 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 "You blocks! You stones! You worse than senseless things!" -- my favorite curse while driving in traffic. Another excellent contribution! Thanks, Cato! I still love spurcifer! and am going to use it in my next book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ingsoc Posted July 19, 2007 Report Share Posted July 19, 2007 "When they had decided to attempt his life at the exhibition of the Palatine games, as he went out at noon, Cassius Chaerea, tribune of a cohort of the praetorian guard, claimed for himself the principal part; for Gaius used to taunt him, a man already well on in years, with voluptuousness and effeminacy by every form of insult. When he asked for the watchword Gaius would give him "Priapus" or "Venus" and when Chaerea had occasion to thank him for anything, he would hold out his hand to kiss, forming and moving it in an obscene fashion." Suetonius, The Lives of the Caesars, The Life of Caligula I'm pretty sure you couldn't use "Priapus" but maybe you can use "Venus" as an insult to indicate someone is soft and act cowardly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flavia Gemina Posted July 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2007 "...he would hold out his hand to kiss, forming and moving it in an obscene fashion." This could lead us into the whole area of Roman hand gestures, for example, the 'sign against evil' which I often use in my books. I assume it was the manus ficus but when young fans ask I direct them to an image of three satyrs on a tripod from Pompeii extending left hand with palm forward. Flavia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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