'Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres…' — the most-read opening in Latin prose. Caesar's clear, direct style makes this an ideal passage for intermediate readers, but the ethnographic detail and political subtext reward close attention. Use Philologus to translate, assess your version, and build your Caesarian vocabulary.
Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres, quarum unam incolunt Belgae, aliam Aquitani, tertiam qui ipsorum lingua Celtae…appellantur.
Citation: Caes. Gal. 1.1.
Gaul as a whole is divided into three parts, of which one is inhabited by the Belgae, another by the Aquitani, a third by those who in their own language are called Celts…
Key vocabulary: divido (to divide, distribute); pars (part, region, side); incolo (to inhabit, dwell in); fortis (brave, strong).
Grammar focus for this passage: Perfect passive participle as predicate ('divisa'); Relative clauses of characteristic; Ablative of respect and comparison; Key vocabulary: divido, pars, tertius, fortis, lingua, institutum; Indirect statement with contendere.
Is 'divisa' a participle or adjective? — A perfect passive participle used as a predicate with 'est' — 'is divided'. It functions as a compound passive.
Why does Caesar write in the third person? — Caesar refers to himself in the third person throughout the Bellum Gallicum — a stylistic choice that creates an impression of objectivity.
Is this passage on my exam syllabus? — BG 1.1 is the most commonly set Caesar passage at GCSE, A-Level, and AP level.