Minimus

@minimuslatin

Minimus sum, mus sum. (I am Minimus, I am a mouse.) I live at Vindolanda with my Roman family, and in Suffolk with Dr Helen Forte. We like to make Latin fun!

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Minimus@minimuslatin· 5d

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 519 Silvius partes in comoedia meditatur (Silvius is rehearsing his role in a comedy). personam aeneam gerit (He wears a bronze mask). theatrum idoneum invenit, sed hoc nimis parvum etiam muri est! (He finds a suitable theatre, but it is too small even for a mouse!)

Photo of Silvius, the little Latin mouse with a bronze-coloured Papposilenus comic mask, standing next to a model of the Roman theatre at Arelate (Arles). The mask idea is based on a bronze mouse in the British Museum; I made the model theatre for the Suburani 'Build It!' Challenge

Minimus@minimuslatin· 15d

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 518 Minima fabulam parvis consobrinis narrat, sed Impudica fatigata est (Minima is telling the little cousins a story, but Impudica is bored). Silvius vigilans patrem monet "illa mare petit!" Watchful Silvius warns his father "She's heading for the sea!").

Photo of Minimus, Minima and Silvius, the Latin mice, on the beach in Suffolk. Minima is telling four of the fingerpuppet mice a story, but Impudica (Cheeky) has escaped and is heading for the water. Silvius has spotted her, and is letting Minimus know so he can scoop her up before she wades in. She can't swim, but that won't stop her!

Minimus@minimuslatin· 16d

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 517 mures iter ad litus faciunt (The mice are on a trip to the seaside). Minimus et Minima velarium erigunt, ne musculi adusti fiant (Minimus and Minima put up an awning, so the little mice don't get sunburned).

Photo of Minimus, Minima and Silvius, the Latin mice, with the little fingerpuppet mouse cousins, at Walberswick on the Suffolk coast. They are all under a green linen sun shade supported by sticks.

Minimus@minimuslatin· 23d

adsunt novae merces in tabernā Minimi (New merch in Minimus' shop). Minima et amicae vestes natatorias gerentes in vestimentis et saccis pictae sunt (Minima and her friends, wearing swimsuits, are depicted on clothes and bags). www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/1818... #minimuslatin

Photo collage of items from my Minimus & more Redbubble shop, featuring the new "dekakini" design.

Minimus@minimuslatin· Jul 14

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 515 consobrini queruntur "necesse est mingere! nonne advenimus? nauseo! cur licet Silvio in prora sedere!" (The cousins are complaining "I need a wee! Are we there yet? I feel sick! Why does Silvius get to sit in the front?"). Minimus suspirat (Minimus sighs).

Photo of Minimus, Minima and Silvius, the Latin mice, with the little cousins, afloat in their boat. As usual, Minimus is rowing (sitting the right way round this time!) and Minima is steering, while Silvius keeps watch from the prow. The baby mice are whingeing, but at least none of them have fallen overboard yet...

Minimus@minimuslatin· Jul 7

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 516 color flammeus et odor suavis rosarum Silvio delectant (The flame colour and sweet smell of the roses delight Silvius). cavē aculeos, muscule! (Mind the thorns, little mouse!)

Photo of Silvius, the little Latin mouse, in a bush of orange-red roses ("Super Trouper", apparently)

Minimus@minimuslatin· Jun 29

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 514 Silvius matri potionem frigidam fert dum apricatur (Silvius brings his mother a cold drink while she sunbathes) Minima bene ornata est flabello, poculo et pulvino et veste natatoria murina (Minima is well equipped with a fan, a cup, a cushion and a mouse swimsuit).

Photo of Minima and Silvius, the Latin mice, in a sunny garden. Minima is wearing a dekakini - a mouse-style bikini with ten cups instead of two, and waving a circular fan. Silvius is kindly bringing a jug to refill her drink.

Minimus@minimuslatin· Jun 21

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 513 Flavia, Vibrissa et Minima in sudariis virgatis apricantur ((Flavia, Vibrissa and Minima are sunbathing on stripy towels). vestes natatorias aptas gerunt (They are wearing appropriate swimsuits)

Drawing of Flavia, Vibrissa and Minima the Latin mouse, sunbathing on their stripy towels. They are wearing specially designed outfits to accommodate their feminine attributes. On the (totally made up) assumption that a bikini is so called because the top garment has two cups, Vibrissa wears a hexakini and Minima a dekakini.
Two-piece bikinis did exist in the Roman world, but were probably worn by acrobats and dancers

Minimus@minimuslatin· Jun 10

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 512 sol lucet inter imbres (The sun is shining between showers). Minima lenticulum gubernat, dum Minimus remigat (Minima is steering the boat while Minimus rows). Silvius in prorā sedet et laete circumspectat (Silvius sits in the prow and looks around happily).

Minimus@minimuslatin· May 29

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 511 Silvius consobrinis occurrit (Silvius meets his cousins). eos internoscit a focalibus (He knows them by their scarves). in manu musculorum Pollex, Index, Impudica, Annularis et Auricularis continet (In the handful of little mice are Thumb, Index, Cheeky, Ring and Ear)

Photo of Silvius, the little Latin mouse, with a group of five finger-puppet mice. All the mice are being held on a pair of hands. Silvius is wearing a straw hat, and the finger mice have different coloured scarves to distinguish them. They are named according to the Latin words for the different fingers.

Minimus@minimuslatin· May 24

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 510 diēs aestuosus est, et mures in horto apricabantur. (It's a hot day, and the mice have been sunbathing in the garden). Silvius in labro aquae intepescit (Silvius is cooling off in a tub of water). Minima sudarium tenet (Minima is holding his towel).

Photo of Minima and Silvius, the Latin mice, relaxing in the garden on a hot weekend. Silvius is reclining in a tin bath full of "water", while his mother is keeping a watchful eye and standing by with a towel.

Minimus@minimuslatin· May 17

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 509 auxilio Tatae, Silvius anulum vimineum in arbore posuit (With Daddy's help, Silvius has put a willow ring in a tree). bellides inter vimina nectit et sedile pulchrum facit (He weaves daisies between the twigs and makes a pretty seat).

Photo of Silvius, the little Latin mouse, standing in a small wicker ring that's decorated with daisies and balanced in the fork of a small apple tree.

Minimus@minimuslatin· May 10

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 508 Silvius musculus fortissimus, simulans se Hercules esse, Cerberum ex Tartaro trahit (Silvius the strongest little mouse, pretending to be Hercules, is dragging Cerberus out of the Underworld). "canicule probe...aut caniculi probi..?" ("Good doggie...or good doggies?")

Photo of Silvius, the little Latin mouse, holding the lead of a three-headed dog. Cerberus has one black head, one white head and one terracotta coloured head, in reference to this Etruscan vase painting from the Louvre: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Herakles_Kerberos_Eurystheus_Louvre_E701.jpg

Minimus@minimuslatin· May 7

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 507 tempus est suffragium ferre (Time to vote)! Minimus, Minima et amicus Spicus tabellas in cistam demittit. (Minimus, Minima and their friend Spike drop their ballots into the box. Silvius intente spectat (Silvius watches closely)

Photo of Minimus, Minima and Silvius, the Latin mice, with their friend Spike the hedgehog, at the polling station for local elections. They all have their painted identification tablets, and are holding their ballots (wax tablets with a mark made next to their chosen candidate's name) in their paws. Silvius is still too young to vote, but he finds the process very interesting!

Minimus@minimuslatin· May 4

#fabula murina (mouse story) 506 Minimus, Minima et Silvius diem Bellorum Stellarum celebrant (Minimus, Minima and Silvius are celebrating Star Wars day). vis tecum sit! (May the Force be with you!) #starwarsday #maythefourth #maythe4th

Photo of Minimus, Minima and Silvius, the Latin mice, dressed as Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Yoda for Star Wars Day.

Minimus@minimuslatin· Apr 27

#fabula murina (mouse story) 505 Silvius ranunculum sub menti tenet, ut flos nitidus repercutiat lucem flavum (Silvius is holding a buttercup under his chin, so the shiny flower reflects yellow light). nonne butyrum amas, Silvi? (Do you like butter, Silvius?)

Photo of Silvius, the little Latin mouse, standing on an ivy-covered stone. He is holding a buttercup under his chin, so that the shiny petals cast a yellow reflection. It's supposed to show whether he likes butter!
Language note: The word ranunculus. buttercup, also means a little frog or a tadpole in Latin, apparently because the flowers like to grow near water. (Hmm... I'm not convinced!)

Minimus@minimuslatin· Apr 22

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 504 diēs terrae adest! (It's Earth Day!) Silvius, stipatus floribus, tunicam fungorum rubeorum ornatam gerit (Silvius, surrounded by flowers, is wearing a tunic decorated with red mushrooms) #EarthDay

Photo of Silvius, the little Latin mouse, celebrating Earth Day. He is in the branches of a wild apple tree, wearing a green tunic decorated with tiny fly agaric motifs, and holding a dandelion and a bluebell.

Minimus@minimuslatin· Apr 19

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 503 omnes pomi in horto florent; cerasus, pirus et morus (All the fruit trees in the garden are blossoming; cherry, pear and mulberry). Silvius malum novellum mavult (Silvius prefers the new apple tree).

Photo collage of Silvius, the little Latin mouse, perched in a very young apple tree in full bloom, against a blue April sky.

Minimus@minimuslatin· Apr 14

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 502 Silvius et amicae Lara et Fusca in litore ventoso prope Gariannonum ludunt. (Silvius and his friends Lara and Dusky are playing on the windy beach near Caister-on-Sea).

Photo of Silvius the little Latin mouse, with his seagull and crow friends, on the Norfolk coast. They are gathered around a red parade flag, planted in the damp sand.

Minimus@minimuslatin· Apr 12

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 501 Minimus et Minima plaustrum ponderosam per harenam trahunt (Minimus and Minima are dragging the heavy wagon through the sand). plenum est Silvio et amicis, qui laete exsiliunt! (It's full of Silvius and his friends, who jump out happily!)

Minimus@minimuslatin· Apr 7

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 500 Silvius novam amicam, nomine Pipa, salutat (Silvius greets his new friend Pip). musculus non timet, quod scit canem benignam esse (The little mouse isn't scared, because he knows that the dog is friendly)!

For his 500th post, here's a photo of Silvius the little Latin mouse rubbing noses with a friendly black dog, a poodle/spaniel cross.

Minimus@minimuslatin· Apr 5

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 499 ecce! duo cuniculi Paschali ova colorata in plostello habent (Look! Two Easter bunnies have coloured eggs in a little cart) sed mane...sunt Silvius et Stephanus porcus! (But wait... it's Silvius and Steve the pig!

Photo of Silvius, the little
Latin mouse, with his stuffed toy pig Steve and a tiny pull-along wagon full of Easter eggs. They are both wearing bunny ears

Minimus@minimuslatin· Apr 5

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 498 felix Pascha! (Happy Easter)

Photo of Silvius the little Latin mouse being swarmed by Easter chicks

Minimus@minimuslatin· Mar 31

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 497 Silvius simulat se psittacum esse (Silvius is pretending to be a parrot). verus psittacus musculum vituperat "tu es mendax!" (The real parrot tells him off "You're a liar!") #Suburani

Photo of Silvius, the little Latin mouse, wearing a green felt parrot costume. He says "psittacus sum" meaning "I'm a parrot". He's facing a larger green parrot who tells him "tu es mendax!" (You're a liar!) The 'real' parrot is meant to be the one from the Suburani Latin course, which I teach alongside Minimus!

Minimus@minimuslatin· Mar 20

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 496 euge! ver adest et sol lucet (Hooray! Spring is here and the sun is shining). Silvius in ramulo salicis sedet, amenta lanata spectans (Silvius is sitting on a willow twig, looking at the furry catkins).

Photo of Silvius the little Latin mouse, on a chilly spring afternoon. He is wearing a yellow woollen scarf and perching on a goat willow that is full of fluffy catkins.

Minimus@minimuslatin· Mar 17

#stpatricksday #minimuslatin Sanctus Patricius serpentes ex Hibernia agit... serpentes eum maxime vexant! (St Patrick drives the snakes out of Ireland... the snakes are annoying him a lot!)

Drawing of St Patrick driving a donkey cart with three snakes in. The snakes are saying "nonne iam advenimus?" (Are we there yet?); "necesse est mihi mingere" (I need a wee); "nauseo" (I feel sick) and St Patrick is thinking "miserere mei" (Have pity on me).

Minimus@minimuslatin· Mar 15

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 495 diēs matrum in Britannia adest (It's Mothers' Day in Britain). Silvius narcissum flavum Minimae dat (Silvius gives Minima a yellow daffodil). "mamma optima!" stridet ("Best mummy!" he squeaks)

Photo of Minima and Silvius, the Latin mice, outside their mousehole. Silvius is presenting Minima with a bright yellow daffodil.

Minimus@minimuslatin· Mar 15

cavē Idus Martias! #bewaretheidesofmarch #minimuslatin

Photo of assassinated Julius Caesar, playmobil version, with a hand-drawn backdrop of conspirators

Minimus@minimuslatin· Mar 13

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 493 murus anticus cavi renovatus est (The front wall of the mousehole has been renewed). Silvius sonum tintinnabuli et pulsationis audit, et ianuam aperit (Silvius hears the sound of the bell and of knocking, and he opens the door). salve tata! (Hello, Daddy!)

Photo of Minimus and Silvius, the Latin mice, outside the mouse hole. Silvius is standing on the doorstep, having just opened one of the double doors. There's a bronze bell on the wall to the left of the door,and a bronze door knocker to the right. The knocker is shaped like a cat's face with a ring in its mouth. Minimus is holding the ring. There's a name plate on the wall which reads CAVUM MINIMI, Minimus' mousehole.

Minimus@minimuslatin· Mar 5

#fabulamurina (mouse story) 492 For World Book Day, Rufus, Vibrissa and Minimus are in being Christopher Robin, Winnie the Pooh and Piglet playing Pooh-sticks (using their Roman Poo sticks as props...) #WorldBookDay @vindolandatrust.bsky.social