Hyginus's De astronomia has not ordinarily been considered as the basis for a Latin prose course at any instructional level. Yet an original text better suited for reinforcing Latin basics and maintaining student interest can scarcely be found. Focussing on three general areas, this paper demonstrates how the De astronomia is the ideal teaching text for an initial exposure to unaltered Latin prose, how it benefits both student an instructor alike, and why it deserves a place in the Latin curriculum at all levels of instruction.

• The De astronomia's straightforward Latin lends itself to ease of reading. Standard constructions found in more commonly taught authors regularly appear, affording ample material for review and reinforcement of grammatical and syntactical principles.

• The De astronomia's self-contained sections are student-friendly. In particular, Book Two's mythologically-based tales of the constellations resonate with already familiar stories. These thus afford students an immediate sense of accomplishment. Many sections of the work, moreover, can be covered in a single class period or two and may be conveniently rearranged as suits the instructional needs of the course.

• The rich and varied content of the De astronomia complements the Latin text. Narrative passages will engage students and maintain interest while descriptions of ancient conceptualizations of the heavens will prompt a clearer understanding of the natural world. This richness enables instructors to expand upon associated literary, cultural, historical and scientific topics. In addition, more technical sections (Book 1, for example) can provide a sound basis for building English scientific vocabulary in English and additional reading opportunities for students with such interests. This paper will be accompanied by a series of illustrative overheads.

Photocopies of the specific passage discussed in the talk and additional bibliographical information will be provided for attendees.