Should I not translate pontifex maximus when not referring to the pope?

[Propertius]

Here’s the sentence:

et Regia, domus pontificis maximi… (Pontifex maximus est summus sacerdos…)

It’s on pg. 13 of Orberg’s Roma Aeterna towards the bottom of the page.

Since pontifex maximus and summus sacerdos pretty much translate to the same thing, am I really suppose to say the same thing twice back-to-back?

I was thinking of not translating it, but I’m thinking that may cause confusion and make people think that are not so familiar with Ancient Roman culture but are familiar with Catholicism that there was a pope in the ancient world. (or maybe I’m just overthinking this? )

What do you all think? Which should I go with?

The greatest priest is the greatest priest…

The Pontifex Maximus is the greatest priest…


Gratias vobis ago.

[seneca2008]

As its Oberg you shouldn’t really be translating it at all. Try reading the Latin as Latin without translating.

Pontifex Maximus is a title and I would have thought there was no need to translate it, especially literally.

I dont know about overthinking things but maybe not thinking enough?

[Propertius]

As its Oberg you shouldn’t really be translating it at all. Try reading the Latin as Latin without translating.

Pontifex Maximus is a title and I would have thought there was no need to translate it, especially literally.

I dont know about overthinking things but maybe not thinking enough?

I’ve tried taking that natural route of learning Latin and I forget what words mean, and I actually have a good memory! Translating to me is like note-toking: you’re able to retain the information better. And that’s actually been proven in college students who take note on their laptops as opposed to those that write their notes. Those that write notes remember what they were taught better.

[anphph]

I guess calling the Pope pontifex maximus is rather translating the Pope’s title (back) into Latin. Anyway it’s such a culturally specific institution that, if you really had to translate, you’d be safest leaving it in the original.

[porphyrios]

I’ve tried taking that natural route of learning Latin and I forget what words mean, and I actually have a good memory! Translating to me is like note-toking: you’re able to retain the information better. And that’s actually been proven in college students who take note on their laptops as opposed to those that write their notes. Those that write notes remember what they were taught better.

There are plenty of ways to take notes that don’t involve translating.

[seneca2008]

Curiously “Pope” is not an official title of the Bishop of Rome. The only cleric who has an official title of Pope is the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.

If you are reading Oberg and you forget what a word means usually reading a little further will give some clue or make it obvious. If that doesnt work look the word up. You can devise questions in latin which help you contextualise meanings of words. But the goal in reading latin (certainly in reading Oberg) is to read it without ever translating. Reading lots and re-reading is a good way of assimilating vocabulary.

You could also write antonyms or synonyms of words you find difficult to remember.

I really dont think that your example of note taking has any relevance. I know that if I take notes by hand they are usually useless as my handwriting is so bad!

[Ronolio]

As its Oberg you shouldn’t really be translating it at all. Try reading the Latin as Latin without translating.

Pontifex Maximus is a title and I would have thought there was no need to translate it, especially literally.

I dont know about overthinking things but maybe not thinking enough?

I’ve tried taking that natural route of learning Latin and I forget what words mean, and I actually have a good memory! Translating to me is like note-toking: you’re able to retain the information better. And that’s actually been proven in college students who take note on their laptops as opposed to those that write their notes. Those that write notes remember what they were taught better.

My approach has always been to skim over a section of the piece, writing down the words that I don’t know/remember and writing down their definitions in a little notebook, then going back and reading through the material. I find that as I go along in a piece, I write down fewer and fewer words.