February 1, 2018
By Ananya Walhekar
Lexington High School’s Latin Certamen (meaning ‘competition’) is a close-knit club of people who enjoy everything to do with the field of classics and what could only be described as “nerdy” pieces of Greek and Latin literature. The group congregates every
Thursday from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. and are tucked away in Room 520, the last classroom in the language building. Members munch away on red velvet Oreos as they huddle around a table in the center of the room. The table is strewn with tangled wires and multi-colored buzzers, each held in the hands of team members who are buzzing excitedly.
My eyes wander to the whiteboard at the back of the classroom where around fifteen names are organized by levels and upcoming competitions which can take place at venues such as Harvard University and the Boston Latin Academy. The club has three levels: novice, intermediate and advanced and two presidents called consuls. Although many people who attend the club take Latin as their foreign language, it is hardly a prerequisite. Anyone with an interest in Greek and Roman mythology or ancient history is encouraged to join as quiz questions pertain to both subjects.
During my visit, Tamara Puskarevic, one of the club’s Consuls, brings the club’s attention together and begins to read out some easier quiz questions. As the members arrange themselves into teams, Noah Jacobson says with a laugh; “I will happily accept a teammate who will carry me upwards.” He whips out a pen and scribbles the team names on the board. The names range from “Little Boots,” the meaning of famous emperor Caligula’s name, to Caesar Salad. The first section is a test of Latin grammar, and instructs students to “Please state how the ablative is used in the following sentence: Dido vulneret sibi glad—”
“Ablative of means,” answers a girl after buzzing in. Noah adds 10 points to the scoreboard and explains the reason behind the answer to the junior team members. The team encourages a new member as she hesitatingly names the six original Olympians, with their names in Greek for bonus points. Even I participate for a while and manage to answer a question right. After a few more questions, the club then moves on to the mythology and culture section, covering Ancient Gaul in comparison to modern world geography, to facts more applicable to ancient daily life such as the layout of Roman houses and the sheer variety of woollen togas.
From the Punic Wars to Queen Helen, whose face “launched thousands of ships,” Room 520 immerses me in the culture of the ancient world. I highly recommend joining the close community of culture and language enthusiasts in Latin, Greek and the ancient world. It is truly a club for everyone who is curious to learn.
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