Certe absunt, sed nobiscum loqui possunt: De inscriptionum usu in scholis

Abstract

In “The life of Domitian”, Suetonius records how that princeps used to organise “wonderful and sumptuous shows”, including a certamen dedicated to Jupiter Capitoline where contestants took part with Latin as well as Greek orations (IV 1-4). Nothing is said by Suetonius on the contestants themselves but we have some knowledge about Quintus Sulpicius Maximus, an eleven years old child who, having gained universal praise at the contest with his improvised composition, died by “illness and fatigue”, as we can read from his funeral monument, found and preserved
in Rome. Said monument also preserves his verses composed in Greek on Phaethon’s tale as well as his laudatio funebris inscribed on behalf of his sad parents. This short article will present a way to use this inscriptions in Latin classes, using images and exercises as well. Phaethon’s tale is mainly known from Ovid’s work, whose verses could be used in illustrating it as shown in a comics book inspired by it.