When did Classical Latin emerge as a specific literary form?
Classical Latin emerged around 75 BC from the chaotic mix of Old Latin dialects. Writers in the late Roman Republic began treating this new standard as proper or good Latin.
Questions about Classical Latin
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who coined the term scriptores classici to describe reliable first-class writers?
Marcus Cornelius Fronto used the term scriptores classici to describe reliable first-class writers in the second century AD. The word classicus originally referred to members of the prima classis, the highest property-owning social group.
What dates define the Golden Age of Classical Latin according to Wilhelm Sigismund Teuffel?
Wilhelm Sigismund Teuffel dated the Golden Age from 83 BC to 14 AD based on political events rather than style alone. This timeframe spanned the dictatorship of Sulla Felix and the death of Augustus.
Which two extant Latin novels belong to the Silver Age?
The Silver Age furnished only two extant Latin novels: Apuleius's The Golden Ass and Petronius's Satyricon. These works appeared during a period marked by exaggerated conciseness and occasional archaic words derived from poetry.
How did Varro classify words in his linguistic studies by 47 BC?
Varro classified words as local, foreign, obsolete, body, place, time, and action by 47 BC. He preferred deducing etymology by relating words with other Latin words rather than external sources.