I have a question about language. In *Commentarii de Bello Gallico*, if *Commentarii* is the genitive case, is *de* necessary? In English, one way to express the genitive is *NOUN + of*, where the word order and the preposition complete the genitive clause without a need for a case ending. I have only a small Latin vocabulary and a vague understanding of Latin grammar, but I try to read original texts as much as I can.
It's because 'Commentarii' is nominative plural rather than genitive.
In theory, you are correct, yes. They could just be 'Commentarii Belli Gallici', which would translate as something like 'stories about the Gallic War', but 'Commentarii de Bello Gallico' stresses that they are the subject or title of the work - 'The Stories about the Gallic War'.
I have a question about language. In *Commentarii de Bello Gallico*, if *Commentarii* is the genitive case, is *de* necessary? In English, one way to express the genitive is *NOUN + of*, where the word order and the preposition complete the genitive clause without a need for a case ending. I have only a small Latin vocabulary and a vague understanding of Latin grammar, but I try to read original texts as much as I can.
It's because 'Commentarii' is nominative plural rather than genitive.
In theory, you are correct, yes. They could just be 'Commentarii Belli Gallici', which would translate as something like 'stories about the Gallic War', but 'Commentarii de Bello Gallico' stresses that they are the subject or title of the work - 'The Stories about the Gallic War'.
This catches me out quite often, to be fair!