Why is the group called Lupercal?

“Lupercal” was the name given to the cave where, according to Roman mythology, the she-wolf “Lupa” nursed the twins Romulus and Remus.  The twins had been left in a basket, and cast out from their family. The cave is a space where they came together to grow stronger and from which they ultimately went on to claim their space as royals. 

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This is a metaphor for Latin studies. We have been excluded, through words and actions, openly and secretly, from spaces dedicated to obtaining increased fluency in spoken Latin.  This opportunity gap has led to male-dominated spaces that silence the gender diversity in our field. Lupercal is a space for us to learn from each other, practice leadership skills, and receive support as we reach new heights of Latin fluency.

 

Why "Lupercal Legit?"

“Legit” is because Lupercal has a legitimate reason to exist, given the issues with gender exclusion in our field.  “Legit” is also the present and past tense of the Latin verb “reads” and therefore helps us keep our character count down when we want to say, for example, “@LupercalLegit Cleopatram.”  The fact that one verb can written past and present tense encapsulates our belief that history continuously impacts the present, and that the present benefits from communication with those before us.

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How can I participate in Lupercal?

Lupercal has moved its former programming to Patreon. Many of the events– Beginners Spoken Lain Hour, Book Club, Cozy in the Wolves' Cave– are back and running, through Patreon. 

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Is Lupercal still closed to men?

No. Previously, Lupercal had been closed to men. Male-only spaces and co-ed spaces abound, and this has led to a field that is very male heavy in its highest level of spoken Latin.  That left an opportunity gap that is keenly felt by women Latinists, which we filled.

However, now Lupercal is a way for all Latinists to have equal access to high-quality spoken practice and programming.

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Why is Boccaccio's De Mulieribus Claris such an important text to Lupercal?

De Mulieribus Claris (On Famous Women) is a book written by Giovanni Boccaccio in the 14th century.  It is an index of over one hundred Latin biographies of women. Its primary purpose is didactic: to inform women how to (and how not to) behave.  Seen by some as proto-feminist for its female theme and by others as sexist for its more condescending moments, it is ultimately a rich prompt for conversations about gender and sexuality.  It was chosen as our key text because over one hundred Latin biographies should keep us pretty busy, it’s accessible to all, and many of the women are famous enough that context clues could help us comprehend the text.  Finally, because it is in Renaissance Latin, it is written clearly and with a repetitive style and tone easy for those who regularly read the stories. It felt accessible and fresh. We use the Harvard University Press Latin-English bilingual edition, translated by Virginia Brown.  You can buy your own copy here. The free Latin text is accessible online here.

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Which stories from Boccaccio's De Mulieribus Claris have you read so far?

We've read the biographies of many women, including Arachne, Camilla, Carmenta, Cassandra, Ceres, Circe, Cleopatra, Eve, Hortensia, (Pope) Joan, Leena, Lucretia, Marpesia & Lampedone, Medea, Medusa, Penelope, Proba, Sappho, Virginia, and Zenobia. 

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Where are the materials based on De Mulieribus Claris that you used to be able to buy?

Since we've migrated to Patreon, those materials are available to members.

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Do you have programs for high schools or younger students?

Yes! Please contact us for more information.  We have offered curricula, Latin lessons, test prep, museum field trips, archival visits, workshops, and private research guidance for independent projects.

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How does Lupercal operate?

Lupercal is run by directors Skye Shirley and Lauren Downey.  We have migrated our events and materials to Patreon.  We are 503(c)3 non-profit registered in the state of Massachusetts.​

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