Penniless. Broke. Poor. Whatever you would like to call it. Yes, us WinJCLers wallets were looking quite empty. A bus to state convention? Non est. Yet in leiu of Valentine's day, Co-President Rebcca had a mirablis idea: What if WinJCL took advantage of those dying, lonely, and sugarless hearts in order to raise funds? 

And so Co-President Rebecca and Editor Mei got to work. Ten bags of meltable chocolates, two things of skewers, and five large containers of strawberries were prepared and carefully placed in Mei's massive cooler, which quickly was driven to Rebecca's house. Upon Mei's arrival, she quickly discovered– to her delight– that our wonderful Co-President had purchased marshmallows to cover as well. 

Thus they began, washing strawberries, melting chocolates in little microwave-safe bowls, and politely bickering over the best strategy to cover the sweet delectable berries. But soon, after an hour or two, they were in a groove. With episodes of "Sheldon" playing in the background and a younger sister peeking over the table, eyes shining with delight, the strawberries and marshmallows were chocolate-ed and skewered. 

Some went missing (into the mouths of Rebecca and Mei). Some were deformed (those met the same fate). But the two WinJCLers stood triumphantly over their children, for they were Prometheus and Epimetheus, their gazes skimming over their creations. Hundreds of skewers lay on aluminum sheets. Hundreds were going to be sold to starving Winchester High Schoolers. 

After giving a quick thanks to the gods for their good fortune, Rebecca and Mei stored the chocolate-covered goods into the cooler. The next day after school, Rebecca rolled them out of her car and into Winchester High School's cafeteria, where they were eagerly gobbled up by the masses. Treasurer Bowen, Secretary Chloe, and Co-President Rebecca (Editor Mei unfortunately was not in attendance due to Debate Club) gratefully took the denarii of their amicis, and, after an hour, triumphantly counted up their reaping. Co-President Rebecca, as in tradition, spread the denarii across her wrist and posted an Instagram Reel showing the club's winnings off (see below top right!). 

Thanks to the efforts of Rebecca, Mei, Chloe, and Bowen, WinJCL is now able to hire a bus to state convention, where they will dominate the competition and take home #1 state title. 

On Saturday, March 23, 10 members of the Winchester JCL attended Harvard Certamen! Players answered tough questions on language, history, culture, and mythology, sharpening their Latin skills and buzzing their way to the top alongside some of the best teams in the country. The day started with a meaningful opening speech from Professor Emily Greenwood about how students can apply their knowledge of the Classics to analyze history and expand their understanding of the world. Afterwards, each team racked up points in three cutthroat rounds of certamen. We had lunch in Harvard Square before rushing back to watch the intermediate semifinal round. Intermediate ended in 6th place, advanced in 22nd place, and novice in 10th place. Everybody enjoyed putting their knowledge to use in a tough competition, learning Latin and leaving Winchester logos on Harvard blackboards along the way!

In 2017, Professor Emily Wilson became the first woman to translate Homer’s long-enduring epic, The Odyssey, into English. Wilson’s translation was preceded by about 60 other translations, all by men. So what makes hers special? Every translation of The Odyssey is an interpretation of Homer’s ancient words. After all, nobody can know what the bard intended each line to mean when he created them millennia ago. This means that each translation is different, starting from the very first line. In an interview with The New York Times, Wilson emphasized the fifth word of the poem: polytropos. She explained that the prefix poly means ‘many’ or ‘multiple’, while tropos means ‘turn’. There are a number of ways to interpret this word, and it’s impossible for modern day scholars to definitively know what the word was meant to express. Polytropos sets the mood for the poem by telling the readers what kind of man Odysseus is: he could be ‘much-turned’, ‘much-turning’, or even ‘of many turns’. Wilson even considered ‘straying’ as a translation. ‘Much turned’ would make sense due to Odysseus’ 10-year-long journey home from Troy, during which he was constantly rerouted by the gods’ wrath. ‘Much-turning’ could refer to the clever king’s ability to turn any situation in his favor with sheer cunning. Other translations typically chose one, explaining Odysseus to the readers with a decisive rendering. Wilson, however, was the first to choose the word ‘complicated’. The ambiguity of Wilson’s solution allows readers to interpret the meaning of the word, just like in the original Ancient Greek. This choice is among thousands Wilson had to make while translating the 12,109 lines of the original poem. Wilson also departed from the norm of past interpretations with her decision to render the Ancient Greek word dmoai as ‘girl’. Other translations had used ‘maidservant’, ‘creature’, and even more derogatory terms. Although dmoai comes from a word meaning ‘to subdue’, Wilson argues that the word simply means ‘female ones’. Furthermore, slavegirls in ancient times would not have had the choice to refuse the powerful suitors, as suggested by the condemning, belittling terms used by previous translators. Emily Wilson’s perspective on the time-honored epic has brought modern readers a fresh, dynamic interpretation of a poem which has, for millennia, been defined by the choices of men, both ancient and modern.

Banners: Harvard Certamen's Beginning.

Virgil’s Aeneid, an epic poem written in the second half of the first century BCE, continues to exert a profound influence on modern society. The heroic themes of duty, destiny, and war, in addition to more modern thoughts such as ethics, permeate the novel and today’s world, providing insights into human nature. The Aeneid’s use of literature to create social influence can still be seen today.

In Book 4 of the Aeneid, Aeneas and Dido share a passionate love affair in Carthage. Their connection is intense, and Dido envisions a future with Aeneas by her side. However, Aeneas receives a divine call urging him to pursue his divine mission—to establish a city that will one day become Rome. Duty, in the form of destiny and the will of the gods, takes precedence over personal happiness and individual desires. These ethical dilemmas resonate with contemporary individuals facing decisions that may require sacrificing personal happiness for the greater good.

Aeneas, as a hero, embodies the archetype of the selfless leader who places the welfare of his people and the fulfillment of his divine mission above personal gratification. The sacrifice of personal happiness for the greater good becomes a defining characteristic of Aeneas's character, reinforcing the notion that duty is not always an easy path but a necessary one. 

Furthermore, the Aeneid brings attention to morality, justice, and the consequences of war, prompting ethical reflections in today's world. In the Aeneid, vivid poetics and intense diction illustrate the brutalities of war. Through his meticulous descriptions, Virgil ensures that the readers not only witness the physical carnage on the battlefield but also experience the emotional and psychological toll that war exacts on individuals and communities. This artistic portrayal of the grim realities of warfare serves as a stark reminder of the moral imperative to critically examine the ethical dimensions of military actions and their far-reaching consequences, fostering a deeper understanding of the profound human cost associated with the pursuit of power and destiny.

The Aeneid's impact extends beyond the pen and the sword to shape the cultural legacy of Western civilization. The ideals of duty, honor, and manifest destiny, as portrayed in the epic, have left an inerasable mark on cultural values and societal norms. The concept of building a new city, supported by duty and destiny, still resonates with the historic mindset of western expansion. The Aeneid's enduring cultural legacy reinforces its relevance as a touchstone for understanding the human experience and the foundations of the west.

Virgil's Aeneid stands as a timeless masterpiece that transcends the confines of its ancient origins, continuing to resonate with contemporary society. The epic's exploration of heroic themes such as duty, destiny, and the sacrifices made in the face of ethical dilemmas provides a lens through which we can understand and evaluate our own human experiences and moral choices. The narrative of Aeneas's departure from Dido exemplifies the perpetual struggle between personal happiness and the greater good, offering insights that remain pertinent to individuals navigating complex decisions today. As we navigate the challenges of the present and the uncertainties of the future, Virgil's Aeneid remains a source of wisdom, inspiration, and moral reflection for generations to come.

Banners: Helen Saved by Venus from the Wrath of Aeneas by Jacques Sablet (1779)

Reaching for a delicacy of corn muffins, Bowen

A delightful accomplishment and a priceless find.

However, fate quickly intervenes and demands a risky tryst from his fingers.

It falls silently to the ground.

A solemn dance amid the last of the light.

Sounds of disintegration, a depressing tune,

When it strikes the ground, there is a loss and agony.

But even in that moment, there was a lesson to be learned about life's unforeseen little slip-ups.

Perhaps Bowen's muffin disappears, but tomorrow is a fresh start.

So let us leave our sorrows behind us and enjoy every morsel we find in the dance of life.

Because every error offers a chance to begin

A freshly made starting, a fresh muffin to win.

Top: Chloe observing the scattered remains of Bowen's muffin. Bottom: Bowen reacting to his violent conquest. 

Where have you gone, old friend?

I am found in this new world filled with faux empires trying to replicate your greatness.

They mandate that this is their era, that they have exceeded you in every manner.

However, they were not there to witness you like I have.

Your dominant army, righteous senate, and all-powerful emperors.

Long gone are the days of Julius and Augustus, forgotten is your magnificence.

All that remains is ruins, statues with cold looks of power desecrated.

However, you remain. You lurk, as a shadow in the tongues of the people.

Your language imposes its history upon the great seals of the nations.

Your old seat of power now holds nothing upon these new nations.

Nations built off of your example, striving to have its name reach the heavens just as yours did.

None has, for they replicate your laws and mimic your culture, but you remain uncontested.

Since, leaders have claimed they would restore Rome, make Italy great again, but failed.

Hundreds of years you have been absent from the great stage of the world.

You, the star actor of all history, gone.

What remains are deuteragonists, imitating the long-gone protagonist of Western civilization.

Where are the likes of Trajan? Of Constantine and Hadrian? The days of Caesar are no more.

Replaced by kaisers and tsars, presidents and prime ministers.

Empire gone and majesty forgotten, yet you are still here.

Acting as the shadow of civilization, you are the Atlas of the modern world as we know it.

Your name reaches to the heavens, spoken among the gods,

Six hundred years hence, lest we forget. 

Clemens libertus

Fortis et benignior

Clemens mi placet.