Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Latin term or phrase:
Tot aquarum tam multis necessariis molibus pyramidas...
English translation:
You might compare the Pyramids—useless, to be sure—or the other idle but vaunted works of the Greeks
Added to glossary by
Joseph Brazauskas
Jul 4, 2013 10:27
10 yrs ago
Latin term
Spain
+34 669 829 437 [email protected]
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English, Catalan to English
Tot aquarum tam multis necessariis molibus pyramidas...
Latin to English
Other
History
This is a phrase written on the Pont del Diable, an aqueduct in Tarragona. I don't speak a word of Latin. Can anyone help, please? To English (any variant) or Spanish or Catalan.
Any help is greatly appreciated, even literal or partial translations.
I'm afraid if I use the Catalan translation, it will stray too far from the original.
Compara, si vols, amb les pedres tan nombroses i necessàries de tants aqüeductes, les supèrflues piràmides o les construccions dels grecs, famoses però inútils.
Here's the Google Translate of that Catalan text, which is faithful to the Catalan.
Compara, si quieres, con las piedras tan numerosas y necesarias de tantos acueductos, las superfluas pirámides o las construcciones de los griegos, famosas pero inútiles.
TIA
ORIG
Tot aquarum tam multis necessariis molibus pyramidas uidelicet otiosas compares aut cetera inertia sed fama celebrata opera Graecorum
Any help is greatly appreciated, even literal or partial translations.
I'm afraid if I use the Catalan translation, it will stray too far from the original.
Compara, si vols, amb les pedres tan nombroses i necessàries de tants aqüeductes, les supèrflues piràmides o les construccions dels grecs, famoses però inútils.
Here's the Google Translate of that Catalan text, which is faithful to the Catalan.
Compara, si quieres, con las piedras tan numerosas y necesarias de tantos acueductos, las superfluas pirámides o las construcciones de los griegos, famosas pero inútiles.
TIA
ORIG
Tot aquarum tam multis necessariis molibus pyramidas uidelicet otiosas compares aut cetera inertia sed fama celebrata opera Graecorum
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 | You might compare the Pyramids—useless, to be sure—or the other idle but vaunted works of the Greeks |
Joseph Brazauskas
|
Change log
Jul 11, 2013 09:43: Joseph Brazauskas Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
2 hrs
Joseph Brazauskas
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
When You Want It Done Right
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
, Spanish (Variant: Standard-Spain)
Works in: Latin to English, English to Latin, Greek (Ancient) to English, and 23 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
24
Selected
You might compare the Pyramids—useless, to be sure—or the other idle but vaunted works of the Greeks
The sentence is from Frontinus, 'de aquaeductibus urbis Romae, 1.16:
"You might compare the Pyramids—useless, to be sure—or the other idle but famously vaunted works of the Greeks with so many indispensable constructions of so many aqueducts."
'Compares' is a potential subjunctive.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2013-07-04 15:02:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
The translation is my own, not ‘semi-official’ and based on another English translation, but made directly from Sex. Iulius Frontinus’ treatise ‘de aquaeductu urbis Romae’, Book 1, Chapter 16, ed. F. Krohn, Leipzig, 1922, which reads, “Tot aquarum tam multis necessariis molibus pyramidas videlicet otiosas compares aut cetera inertia sed fama celebrata opera Graecorum.” Frontinus was appointed ‘curator aquarum’ (‘water commissioner’) in 97 CE and held the post till his death.
"You might compare the Pyramids—useless, to be sure—or the other idle but famously vaunted works of the Greeks with so many indispensable constructions of so many aqueducts."
'Compares' is a potential subjunctive.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2013-07-04 15:02:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
The translation is my own, not ‘semi-official’ and based on another English translation, but made directly from Sex. Iulius Frontinus’ treatise ‘de aquaeductu urbis Romae’, Book 1, Chapter 16, ed. F. Krohn, Leipzig, 1922, which reads, “Tot aquarum tam multis necessariis molibus pyramidas videlicet otiosas compares aut cetera inertia sed fama celebrata opera Graecorum.” Frontinus was appointed ‘curator aquarum’ (‘water commissioner’) in 97 CE and held the post till his death.
Note from asker:
| I have no experience in this area. I assume you mean it's from a book, and that is the chapter/section number. Can I consider this to be a "semi-official" translation then, i.e. one that has been published in the book in its translation to English? |
| OK, thank you very much for your help! :) This is will be put next to the aqueduct with the inscription. Cheers! |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks, Joseph!"
Discussion