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Cum ianitor nomen viatoris audivisset, portam aperuit et eum intrare iussit.

Cum ianitor nomen viatoris audivisset, portam aperuit et eum intrare iussit.
When the doorkeeper had heard the traveler’s name, he opened the gate and ordered him to enter.
FromLesson 12inHardcore Latin
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Questions & Answers about Cum ianitor nomen viatoris audivisset, portam aperuit et eum intrare iussit.

Why does the sentence start with cum, and what does it mean here?

Here cum introduces a time clause: cum ... audivisset = when/after he had heard.
In narrative Latin, cum + subjunctive often sets background circumstances for the main action.

Why is audivisset in the subjunctive, and why is it pluperfect?

With cum in narrative, Latin commonly uses the subjunctive (called the cum circumstantial or narrative cum).
audivisset is pluperfect subjunctive because the hearing happened before the main actions (aperuit, iussit).

How can I tell which clause is the main clause?

The main clause is: portam aperuit et eum intrare iussit.
It contains the main indicative verbs (aperuit, iussit). The cum-clause (Cum ... audivisset) is subordinate and provides timing/background.

What case is ianitor, and what is its role?
ianitor is nominative singular, so it is the subject of both audivisset (in the cum-clause) and the implied subject of aperuit and iussit (in the main clause): the doorkeeper did all these actions.
Why is it nomen viatoris and not nomen viator?

nomen means name, and the person whose name it is goes in the genitive:

  • nomen viatoris = the traveler’s name
    So viatoris is genitive singular (“of the traveler”).
What form is viatoris, and how do I know it’s genitive?

viator, viatoris is a 3rd-declension noun. The dictionary form tells you the genitive: viatoris.
In many 3rd-declension nouns, the genitive singular ends in -is, which signals of the ....

Why does the main verb switch to aperuit (perfect indicative) after a pluperfect subjunctive?

Because the sentence is describing a sequence:
1) background prior action: had heard (audivisset)
2) main completed actions: opened and ordered (aperuit, iussit)
Latin often uses perfect indicative for the main line of narrative events.

What does eum refer to, and why is it accusative?

eum means him and refers back to viator (the traveler).
It is accusative because it is the direct object of iussit: the doorkeeper ordered him.

How does iussit eum intrare work grammatically?

This is a common Latin construction: iubere (to order) takes an accusative + infinitive:

  • eum = the person ordered (accusative)
  • intrare = what he is ordered to do (infinitive)
    So iussit eum intrare = he ordered him to enter.
Why is intrare an infinitive and not a finite verb like intrat?

Because after iubere Latin typically uses an infinitive to express the commanded action.
A finite verb like intrat would make it a separate clause with its own subject, but Latin prefers accusative + infinitive after verbs of ordering, saying, thinking, etc.

Is portam accusative because it’s the direct object of aperuit?

Yes. portam is accusative singular and is the direct object of aperuit: he opened the gate/door.
(porta can be a gate or door, depending on context.)

Does the word order matter in Cum ianitor nomen viatoris audivisset?

Latin word order is flexible, but it’s still meaningful. Here it is fairly straightforward:

  • ianitor (subject) is placed early
  • nomen viatoris (object phrase) stays together
  • audivisset (verb) comes at the end of the clause, which is very common in Latin subordinate clauses