Exempla antiqua

Classical and Medieval Latin examples for learners

Cinis sum

CIL 6.29609, 5–6

cinis sum; cinis terra est; terra dea est; ergō ego mortua nōn sum.


Textbook notes:

Shelmerdine introduces both sum and terra in ch. 5. Dea is also already known. Only cinis probably really needs to be provided.

Wheelock has dea in 6 and terra in 7, which also introduces 3rd decl. nouns (although not cinis). Present of sum already in ch. 4.

Appears in By Roman Hands (#7).


Cf. Epicharmus (Bergk, Poet. Lyr. Graec. 2.239)

εἰμὶ νεκρός, νεκρός δὲ κόπρος, γῆ δ’ ἡ κόπρος ἐστιν·

εἰ δέ τε γῆ θεός ἐστ’, οὐ νεκρός, ἀλλὰ θεός.

I am a corpse and a corpse is dirt, and dirt earth; but if the earth is a God, a God am I and not a corpse. (Tr. J. Edmonds)