Small translation help.

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Tristanian
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2013 5:59 am

Small translation help.

Post by Tristanian »

Hello, I was wondering if someone could help me with a small translation. Please bare in mind that my Latin is very poor!

What I want to say is 'The Legion of Scipio the African'. My confusion comes with regard to 'the African' part.

My guess is that it would be written as such:

'Legio (the Legion nominative sg) Scipiōnis (Scipio genitive sg "of Scipio") Africani (the African genitive msc sg).

So the whole thing would simply be Legio Scipionis Aficani. My thinking behind the Africani bit is that I can only assume that since it is being used as an Adjective to describe something about Scipio (he is an African) it would have to be genitive, singular and masculine to agree with Scipionis.

Am I right?

Any help would be welcome!

Thanks,
Tristanian

mwh
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 4791
Joined: Fri Oct 18, 2013 2:34 am

Re: Small translation help.

Post by mwh »

You are quite right, both in your latin and in your reasoning.
Scipio Africanus was Roman not African, but he was dubbed the African after defeating Hannibal of Carthage. It served to distinguish him from all the other Scipios.

Tristanian
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2013 5:59 am

Re: Small translation help.

Post by Tristanian »

Yes, thank you very much :P

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