Academic - Customs Flashcards
Based on Jose Molina Notes
What was the suspectio?
“lifting” - act of aknowledging a child
What was the primordia?
first eight days of pupus’ life
What was the naming ceremony and when was it?
dies lustricus / dies nominum/ nominalia - 9 days after a son’s birth, 8 days after a daughter’s birth
Give the dictionary entry for cunae/cunabula
cunae, -arum f. pl. / cunabula, -orum n. pl.- cradle
What was a lectica?
a litter for carrying a baby by 2 men (also a litter in general)
What was a bulla (aurea)?
two concave pieces of gold containing an amulet worn around the neck to protect a child from the fascinatio (evil eye) - brought over as a custom from the Etruscans - plebians used imitation of leather not gold - protected triumphant generals from envy
What was a crepundia?
a rattle - a toy that was composed of several toys tied together by string that rattled when shaken - monumenta of Terrence - identification to children
What were turbines?
spinning tops
What were trochi?
hoops
What were pilae?
balls
What were tali?
knucklebones for playing jacks
If a man had an educated slave, what could he do with it?
he could charge people to have the slave teach their children - he could allow the slave to keep peculium
Who were the elementary schools taught by?
the litterator
Who were the grammar schools taught by?
the grammaticus
Who were the schools of rhetoric taught by?
the rhetor
What were pergula?
shedlike attachment to public building where class was usually held
What were teachers usually?
teachers or freedman - fashionable good teachers had no fees but were paid an honorarium by the generosity of the patrons
When did the school day start and end?
started before sunrise and went until noon - used candels in the morning
What were nundinae?
market days - no school
What was a paedagogus?
accompanied children the school and tutored them
What was a tirocinium?
and apprenticeship, or “rookie-ship” (from tiro, rookie)
What was a tirocinium fori?
voluntary apprenticeship to study law
What was a tirocinium militiae?
apprenticeship to study administration and war
What were cohors?
voluntary staff of young men who accompanied generals
What was liberalia and when was it?
March 17th - man gave up his bulla and toga praetexta (insignia pueritiae) - tunica recta worn under the toga virilus / pura / libera - hung his bulla on hearth (to the lares) and put on his toga - offerings to Liber on Capitoline made - feast
What was the tabellarius?
slave who sent mail
What was the codicilli/pugilares?
book hinges for tablets used for letters
What was the stilus/stylus/graphium?
ivory/metal instrument for writing on tablets
What was the calamus?
reed pet
What was the atramentum?
ink
What was the linum?
thread for sealing a letter
What was the schedae?
letters written on sheets of paper
What was the codex?
modern-style book
What was the palimpsestum?
reused parchment or paper
What was the umbilicus?
the pole about which a scroll is bound
What was the cornue?
knobs on ends of umbilicus
What was the titulus?
small strip of paper with the name of the work attached to the knob
What was the capsa/scrinium?
wooden box that held scrolls
What was the cera?
wax used to seal a letter
What was the signum?
seal used to enclose a letter
What was the armaria?
cupboards that could sometimes hold books
What was the roman’s favorite meal?
pork
What was exta?
flesh furnished for banquets - heart, liver, and lungs were the share of the priest (rest consumed on alter)
What was dormouse?
a great delicacy in Ancient Rome
What was piscis?
fish
What was tyrotarichus?
salted and dried fish (tarichos), eggs, and cheese (or spices)
What was garum/liquamen?
fish sauce from sturgeon or mackerel - fish is slightly cooked in sea water and fermented for several months
What was the mola?
mill
What was the meta?
lower millstone
What was the catillus?
upper millstone (from catinus)
What was the torcular/preculum?
press used to make the olives
What was the amurca?
dark and bitter liquid composed of the impurities removed from the pressing fo the olive used as fertilizer
What was the first pressing of olives used for?
cosmetics
What was the second pressing of olives used for?
cooking
What was the third pressing of olives used for?
fuel for lamps
What was oleum (olivum)?
olive oil
What were mala?
fruits
What was a malum?
apple
What was a malum Persicum?
peach
What was a malum Punicum?
pomegranate
What was a malum Armeniacum?
apricot
What was a malum Corinthum?
currant
What were panes?
(circular loaves of) bread
What was panis siligneus?
best bread made of pure wheat flour
What was panis plebeius?
common bread made of coarse flour and/or bran
What was panis castrensis?
army bread
What was panis sordidus?
dark bread
What was panis rusticus?
country bread
What were herbae pulmentariae?
pot-herbs
What was a hortus holitorius?
vegetable garden
What was puls?
porridge
What was a potus?
drink
What was aqua?
water
What was mustum?
grape juice
What was a dolium?
vat-like jar used to ferment mustum into wine
What was a vinaria cella?
cell for fermenting wine where jars were left uncovered for nine days
What was vinum?
wine
What was acetum?
vinegar
What was vappa?
tasteless wine/vinegar
What was mulsum?
honeyed wine (four parts wine, one part honey)
What was mulsa?
honeyed water (one part honey, two parts water)
What was ientaculum?
breakfast
What was meridiatio?
midday siesta
What was prandium?
lunch
What was cena?
dinner
What was gustatio/promulsis/gustus/antecena?
appetizer
What was the fercula?
main course
What was secunda mensa?
dessert - offerings and prayers done before this part of the meal
What was merenda/vesperna?
supper
What was a convinium?
banquet / drinking party
What were umbrae?
unwelcomed guests
What were common foods that Romans didn’t have?
rice, pasta, potato, corn, sugar, tomatoes, oranges, bananas, strawberries, raspberries, chocolate, coffee, tea, distilled spirits
What was a colonus?
tenant farmer
What was the pergula?
framework for growing vines, trellis; booth or stall
What was the aratrum?
plough - fields were to be ploughed twice - first time straight, second time sloping
What were cato’s rules for farming?
- plough well 2. plough well 3. manure well
What was a hortus?
garden
What was a xystus?
personal garden (with flowers - roses, lilies, and violets)
What was a hippodromus?
garden for driving or riding
What were gestationes?
gardens for walking or being carried in a lectica
Who were the consules elected by?
comitia centuriata
Who were the praetores elected by?
comitia centuriata
Who were the censores elected by?
comitia centuriata
Who were the aediles curules elected by?
comitia tributa
Who were the aediles plebes elected by?
concilium plebis
Who were the quaestores elected by?
comitia tributa
Who were the tribunes plebes elected by?
concilium lebis
Who was the pontifex maximus electated by?
comitia tributa
Who was the dictator elected by?
senatus (senate)
What were the responsibilities of the consul?
Acted primarily as commanders of military forces, presided over meetings of the Senate and implemented its decisions
What were the responsibilities of the praetor?
Acted as supreme civil judges
What were the responsibilities of the censor?
Took censuses of property, kept a register of all citizens and assigned them to their centuries, controlled public morals and could expel senatores, prepared lists of members of the senate, had the right to take judicial proceedings against citizens suppressing information about their property, supervised the leasing of public land, decided on new construction, and awarded government contracts
What were the responsibilities of the aedilius curulis?
Administered public buildings and archives and were in charge of the maintenance and repair of public buildings, of markets, of the annona, and of public games and festivals
What were the responsibilities of the aedilius plebis?
Administered public buildings and archives and were in charge of the maintenance and repair of public buildings, of markets, of the annona, and of public games and festivals
What were the responsibilities of the quaestor?
Maintained public records, administered the treasury (aerarium), acted as paymasters accompanying generals on campaigns, were financial secretaries to governors
What were the responsibilities of the tribunus plebis?
Presided over concilium plebis, could veto any act by any magistrate or any assembly
What were the responsibilities of the pontifex maximus?
Exercised control over the entire state religion, regulated calendar, oversaw Vestal Virgins, administered laws of adoption, testament, and succession
What were the responsibilities of the dictator?
Had supreme military and judicial authority, although other magistrates remained in office
How many and for how long were consules elected?
2 elected annually
How many and for how long were praetores elected?
2 (then 6) annually
How many and for how long were censores elected?
1, 18 months (but elected very 5 years)
How many and for how long were aediles curules elected?
2 elected annually
How many and for how long were aediles plebes elected?
2 elected annually
How many and for how long were quaestores elected?
4 (then 10) annually
How many and for how long were dictatores elected?
1, 6 months (only in crisis)
How old did one have to be to become a consul?
36 origionally, then changed to 42 later
How old did one have to be to become a praetor?
around 40
How old did one have to be to become an aedilis curulis?
around 36
How old did one have to be to become an aedilis plebis?
around 36
How old did one have to be to become a quaestor?
27 origionally, then changed to 30
What was the consul ordinarius?
consul who entered at the beginning of the year
What was the consul suffectus?
a consul chosen to replace another consul mid-term
What was the magister equitum?
dictator’s assistant - master of the cavalry
What was the praetor urbanus?
sheriff or “city praetor”
What was the proconsul?
governor of a province
What was the propraetor?
extended praetorship
What was the senator?
senator (old men whose main power was to advise)
What was the curia?
senate house (comitia curiata - oldest assembly)
What was the cursus honorum?
course of honor: 1. quaestor 2. praetor 3. consul
What was the meaning of the term suo anno?
a man who completed the cursus honorum in their first year of eligibility
What was the meaning of the term novus homo?
man who did not have previous members in their family hold office (particularly a consulship)
What was intercessio?
right to veto held by tribunes
What were the fasces?
bundle of rods surrounded an axe - symbol of power
Who carried fasces?
lictors (lictores)
How many lictors were praetors accompanied by?
6
How many lictors were consuls accompanied by?
12
How many lictors were dictators accompanied by?
24
What were comitiae and the concilia?
committees and assemblies for voting
What was the comitia uriata?
oldest assembly - met only as a formality
What was the comitia centuriata?
elected major offices
What was the comitia tributa?
elected minor offices
What was the concilium plebis?
elected plebeian offices
What was indutus?
clothing that is put on
What was the tunica recta?
bride’s tunic
What was the tunica angusti clavi?
knight’s tunic - “tunic with a narrow border”
What was the tunica lati clavi?
senatorial tunic - “tunic with a wide border”
What was the stola?
woman’s full dress / outer garment
What was the palla?
woman’s shawl-like garment worn outdoors
What was the lacerna?
a common mantle or cloak made of wool which sometimes had a hood (cucullus)
What was the trabea?
first name for the military cape 0 cloak worn by augurs with purple and scarlet stripes
What was the sagum?
later more common name for the heavy military cloak
What was the paludamentum?
a general’s cloak
What was the paenula?
rain coat with a hood (cucullus)
What was the laena?
a heavy woolen cloak
What was an abolla?
a heavy woolen cloak worn by poor people for sharing
What was the bracae?
breeches or shorts worn by foreign and uncivilized peoples
What was amictus?
clothing that is wrapped around
What was the toga praetexta?
toga with a purple border worn by boys and curule magistrates
What was the toga virilis/pura/libera?
man’s toga assumed on the Liberalia when a young man turned 16
What was the toga candida?
chalked-white toga worn by candidates running for office
What was the toga pulla?
black wool toga worn at funerals by mourners
What was the toga picta?
colored or painted toga worn by triumphant generals
What was the toga exigua?
short, simple toga
What was the synthesis/vestis cenatoria?
bright dinner garment worn to banquets
What was the endromis?
bathrobe, robe worn after exercise
What was the calceus?
regular tied shoe made of leather always worn with the toga
What was the sandalium?
general term for sandal or slipper
What was the solea?
sandal or slipper worn only indoors except during meals
What does soleas poscere mean?
“to demand one’s sandals” - to prepare to leave
What were caligae?
boots worn by soldiers
What was a mulleus/calceus patricius?
red shoe with an ivory or silver crescent moon (lunula) worn by curule magistrates (origionally worn by patricians only
What were perones?
shoes with untanned black leather worn by the poor and equites
What were sculponeae?
wooden shoes worn by peasants
What was an anulus?
ring
What was a monile/torquis?
necklace
What was an armilla?
BRACELET
What was a margarita?
pearl (a woman’s favorite jewelry)
What was a pilleus?
conical felt cap worn by laborers and freedmen
What was a petasus/causia?
broadrimmed, sombrero-like hat of foreign origin
What was an apex?
conical, pointy hat worn by the flamines
What was subligaculum?
underwear
What was a mamillare?
band of soft leather worn under the breast by women (bra)
What was a strophium?
bra or sash-like band of soft leather worn under the breast
What was a zona/cingulum?
girdle worn around the waist
What was a fibula?
brooch or pin used by women to keep a tunic in place
What was an instita?
flounce or wide border sewn to lower hem of stola
What were fasciae?
strips of woolen cloth - feminalia - strips worn around the upper leg (from femur) - tibialia - strips worn around the lower leg - ventralia - strips worn around the body - focalia - strips worn around the neck, scarves/neckties (from fauces)
What were vittae/taeniae/fasciolae?
ribbons
What were reticula?
nets
What was a sinus?
fold in a toga used as a pocket
What were umbones?
folds that could be used as a hood
What was cinctus Gabinius?
way of wearing the toga over the head for religious reasons
What was a balneum?
public bath (plural balneae)
What was a thermae?
largest type of baths that had the features of the Greek gymnasia
What was a testudo?
metal heater used to heat water in the baths
What was an alveus?
hot water tank
What was a labrum/solium?
basin of metal for showers
What was a capsarius?
slave who rubbed oil, scraped it off, and handed the bather his towel
What was the apodyterium?
dressing room
What was the tepidarium?
warm-watered room
What was the cal(i)darium?
hot-watered room
What was the frigidarium?
cold-watered room
What was the unctorium?
rub down and oil room
What was a strigil?
tool used to scrape the body
What was the palaestra?
exercise courtyard (mainly for boxers and wrestlers)
What was the gymnasium?
training yard for athletes in general
What was the natatio?
large swimming pool open to the sky and surrounded by porticos
What was the piscina?
small fish pond or pool
What was the exedra?
pavilion for sitting
What was the stadium?
running track
What was the scholae?
halls for traveling lecturers
What was the bibliotheca?
library
What were folles?
balls filled with hair, feather, or air
What was trigon?
catch, played with three people and two balls (or as many as possible) - had two officials: one kept score and the other returned stray balls to the players
What was latrunculi?
“little bandits” - chess
What was duodecem scripta?
“twelve tables” - backgammon
What was calculi?
checkers
What was micatio?
game similar to Italian mora
What were tali?
knucklebones of a sheep or goat - five are thrown and caught on the back of the hand kind of like jacks - also used to refer to dice
What was the fritillus?
dice-box from which dice were thrown
What was the highest throw of the tali?
Venus - all different numbers (6,4,3,1,)
What was the middle throw of the tali?
Senio - 6 and three numbers (6,x,x,x)
What was the lowest throw of the tali?
Vulture - all the same number (1,1,1,1)(3,3,3,3)(4,4,4,4)(6,6,6,6)
What were munera?
private games
What were ludi?
public games
What were luci scaenici?
dramatic performances in a theater
What was a dominus gregis?
manager in producing a play
What were the grex?
troupe of inferior actors
What were the ornamenta?
props necessary for a play
What was the proscaenium/proscenium?
front line of the stage
What was the scaena/scena and where was it in relation to the front?
the stage for actors behind the front
What was the cavea and where was it in relation to the front?
seats for spectators before the front
What was the praecinctio?
semicircular passage in the middle of the audience
What were maeniana?
groups of rows dividing the audience
What were cunei?
vertical divisions of maeniana by stairs
What were vela?
awnings that protected from rain or sun
What were the ludi circenses?
chariot races
What were the factiones?
chariot companies/factions (origionally 4)
What does russata mean?
red
What does albata mean?
white
What does veneta mean?
blue
What does prasina mean?
green
What two colors did Domitian add to the factiones?
purpurea (purple) and aurea (gold)
What were the carceres?
starting gates - like stables where the chariot drivers waiting for the race to begin
What was the porta triumphalis?
ending gate
What were the spinae?
“backbone” - the center part of the circus
What were the metae?
pillars or turning posts
What was a curriculum?
one lap around the circus
What was a missus?
full seven lap race around the circus
What were the ova et delphini?
“eggs and dolphins” marble in those shapes to count laps
What was the auriga/agitator?
chariotdriver (usually a freedman or slave)
What were the venationes?
beast hunts
What were the naumachiae?
mock naval battles
What were the caveae?
banks of rows
What was the infima/ima cavea?
lowest section (first five rows at Pompeii)
What was the media cavea?
middle section (next twelve rows at Pompeii)
What was the ssumma cavea?
highest section (highest eighteen rows at Pompeii)
What was another name for the Colosseum?
Flavian Amphitheater
When was the Colosseum opened?
80AD
What were munera gladiatoria?
gladiator fights
What was sagina gladiatoria?
special food for gladiators
What was a rudis?
wooden training sword given to gladiator
What was the porta Libitinensis?
narrow passage for carrying the dead
What was the maenianum 1 in the Colosseum?
first fourteen rows behind podium for equestrians
What was the maenianum 2 in the Colosseum?
for ordinary citizens
What was the maenianum 3 in the Colosseum?
pillars - lower classes, foreigners, and slaves
Who used the open gallery above the maenianum 3?
women
What were gladiatores/gladiatorii?
gladiators
What was the retiarius?
Gladiator that fought with a net (rete) and trident (fuscina)
What was the andabata?
Gladiator that fought blindfolded
What was the murmillo/mirmillo?
Gladiator that had a helmet with a fish crest
What was the essedarius?
Gladiator that fought in a war chariot
What was the bestiarius?
Gladiator that fought wild animals
What was the tiro?
rookie gladiator
What was a dimachaerus?
Gladiator that fought with two daggers
What was a laqueator/laquearius?
Gladiator that fought with a lasso (laqueus)
What was an auctoratus?
volunteer gladiator
What was a Thrax (Thracian)?
had a short shield (parma) and grieves on both legs
What was a Samnite?
Gladiator who had thick sleeves on the right arm (manicae), greaves on his left leg, and a visored helmet
What did a Samnite fight with?
a short sword and a long shield (scutum)
What would a Samnite pin hoplomachi to?
Thracians
What would a Samnite pin secutores to?
retiarii
What was the palus primus?
“first sword” - highest ranked gladiator
What was the palus secundus?
“second sword” - next highest ranked gladiator
What was a missus?
spared gladiator
What was a lanista/doctor?
gladiator trainer
What was the cena libera?
banquet for gladiators day before exhibition
What was a prolusio?
sham combat with blunt weapons that began the show
What did the term iusta facere mean?
to perform funeral rites
What was a collegium funeraticium?
a burial society
What was a patronus/a?
an honorary member of a society
What was a funus acerbum?
“bitter funeral” - involved no ceremony and was for the death of small children
What was a funus plebeium?
plebeian funeral that had no public parade
What were puticuli?
25 foot deep grave pits on the Esquiline hill
What was the pomerium?
boundary line for city of Rome within which no one could be buried
What was a cenotaphium?
empty tomb
What was a sepulc(h)rm?
room inclosed in a bilding for burying the dead
What was a columbarium?
“dove cote/pidgeon house” - a family tomb that had many inside
What was kept in niches on the walls of the colmbarium?
urns
What were gradus?
rows of niches
What were ordines?
columns of niches
What was titulus?
marble above the nich with the name of the dead
What was a sarcophagus?
a sarcophagus on a podium for dead bodies
What was a cepotaphium?
garden tomb
What was a bustum/rogus?
funeral pyre
What were ustrina?
places for burning bodies and where ashes were collected and dried
What was an olla?
urn or jar
What was an ossuarium?
jar to put bones in
What was a conclamatio?
formal oration given by the oldest son of the deceased
What was the lectus funebris?
“death bed” - all of the deceased’s insignia worn by him while alive were placed on this couch
What was a designator/libitinarius?
ndertaker
What was the term “Ollus Quiris leto datus…”?
“This warrior has departed in death” - said before a funeral procession by a public crier
What was done to the imagines of one who has passed on?
they were taken from the alae and given to actors
What was the laudatio?
funeral oration given in the forum by a public authority
What were neniae/naeniae?
funeral songs or poems
Who sung the neniae/naeniae?
female relatives or hired female mourners (praeficiae)
What was the os resectum?
ceremonial bone that was buried if the rest of the body was cremated
What was the cena novendialis?
feast held after nine days of mourning
What was the job of the amanuensis/librarius?
secretary
What was the job of the apparitores?
public servants (i.e. scribes and lictors)
What was the job of the argentarius?
banker
What was the job of the carnifex?
butcher
What was the job of the caupo?
innkeeper
What was the job of the chirurgus?
surgeon
What was the job of the discobolus?
discus thrower
What was the job of the fullo?
fuller, laundry man
What was the job of the insularius?
custodian of an apartment house (insula)
What was the job of the leno?
pimp - sold female slaves for immoral purposes
What was the job of the mango?
wholesale dealer - seller of slaves
What was the job of the metator?
surveyer
What was the job of the nuntius?
messenger
What was the job of the nutrix?
nurse
What was the job of the pictor?
painter
What was the job of the piscator?
fisher
What was the job of the pistor?
bread baker - crushed spelt into puls
What was the corpus/collegium?
guild of bread bakers
What was the job of the prima rudis?
fencing master
What was the job of the publicanus?
tax collector
What was the job of the scriba?
scribe
What was the job of the sutor?
shoe maker
What was the job of the tabellarius?
mailman (slave)
What was the job of the tonsor?
`barber
What was the job of the topiarius?
ornamental gardener - hedge trimmer and ivy grower
What was the job of the vigiles?
watchmen, firemen, police
What were pontifices?
pontiffs - had overall control of the state religion
What was the pontifex maximus?
head of the pontiffs
What were augures/auspices?
augurs - elected for life - only priests authorized to take the auspices (read and interpret signs from the gods to find out if a proposed course of action had divine approval) - mostly by observing the flight patterns of wild birds or the feeding habits of captive birds such as chickens - aspices were taken before any major event, such as a voyage or battle
What was the haruspex?
plural haruspices - priest who interpreted entrails of sacrificed animals
What were the flamines?
priests appointed to serve particular deities
What was the flamen dialis?
priest of Jupiter
What were the fetiales?
priests present in dealings with foreign nations and were particularly concerned with the riguals involved in declaring war and making treaties
What were the salii?
“leaping” or “dancing” priests of Mars
What were the augustables?
priests for the worship of emperors
What were the vestables?
virgin women who were in charge of the worship of Vesta at her temple
How old must Vestal Virgins be to be chosen?
between the ages of 6 and 10
What would happen if a Vestal Virgin was proven unchaste?
she would be burned alive
How long did a chosen girl spend on each step of being a Vestal Virgin?
10 years to learn their duties, 10 years to perform them, and 10 years to teach youths
What was the regia?
residence of the pontifex maximus
What were the lares compitales?
the lares of the crossroads
What were the lares and penates?
household gods
What were the lares?
family gods
What were the penates?
cupboard gods
What were the manes?
spirits of the dead
What were the genius?
divine spirit - represented by a bearded snake
What was a decuria?
a group of 10 house slaves
What was a hasta?
spear - symbol of a sale under a public official
What did sub hasta venire / sub corona venire mean?
to be sold into slavery
What did captives and victims of sacrifice wear?
they wore garlands on their heads
What were mangones?
wholesale dealers - sellers of slaves
What was a contubernium to slaves?
slave marriage
What were vernae?
slaves born in the house
What was a titulus?
scroll around the slave’s neck that identified the slave showing his character - it served as a warrant for the buyer
What could be done if a slave had defects not specified in the titulus?
he could be returned within six weeks or the seller would have to pay the purchaser back
What did the titulus include?
age, nationality, diseases (like epilepsy), and tendancy to thieve, run away, or attempt to commit suicide
What did a slave wear if no warrant was given?
a pilleus (cap of freedom) - the buyer took all the risks
What was a leno?
a pimp - sold slaves for immoral purposes
What was the servi publici?
took care of public buildings and acted as servents of magistrates and priests
What was a vilicus?
slave in charge of latifundia
What was a atriensis?
a butler
What was an ostiarius / ianitor?
a door keeper (usually chained to the door post)
What was an ornator / ornatrix?
a hair dresser
What was a tonsor?
a barber
What was a nomenclator?
a slave who reminded master of names of people
What was the dominium?
power of master over slaves
When was the only time a slave could be killed?
wih good reason by due process of law
What was the peculium?
property of a slave if so granted by master
What was a vicarius?
the slave of a slave
What was a paedagogus?
accompanied children to school and tutored them
What was a scutica/lorum?
lash or rawhide made of cords/thongs of leather
What was a flagrum/flagellum?
whip and bits of bone or metal buttons
What was a furcifer?
culprit who carried on his shoulders a log of wood shaped like a V (furca-fork) with his arms stretched out and his hands tied to the ends of the fork
What was a fugitavus?
fugitive - branded with an F on the forehead - sometimes had a metal collar around his neck
What was an ergastulum?
prison for slaves to work enchained
What happened to slaves who murdered or attemped to murder their masters?
they were crucified
What was a carnifex/lorarius?
slave to punish a slave
When could a master pronounce a slave free?
before a witness
What did a freed slave receive as he was freed?
a pilleus (liberty cap)
Who was the patronus of a freed slave?
his former master
What was a salutatio?
a client’s greeting to his patron in the atrium of the patron’s house
What was a sportula?
basket given to the client by the patron
What were tesserae hospitales?
tokens of hospitality exchanged
What were pedites?
foot soldiers/infantry men
What as a legio?
legion - largest unit - 360 men (60 before the time of Caesar
What was a cohors?
cohort - a tenth of a legion
What was a manipulus?
maniple - a third of a cohort
What was a centuria?
century - half a maniple - 60 men (100 origionally)
What were axilia?
auxiliary troops
What were levis armature pedites?
light-armed foot soldiers
What were funditores?
slingers (fundae - slings)
What were sagittarii?
bowmen/archers
What were eqites?
cavalry men
What was an ala?
a squad of 300 equites
What was a turma?
a tenth of an ala - 30 men
What was a decria?
a third of a turma - 10 men
What was a dux?
commanding officer or general - after his first important victory he became imperator (the commander-in-chief)
What were legati?
legates / staff officers - next in rank to dux
What were tribuni militum?
military tribune - six to a legion
What were centuriones?
centurions and captains - noncommissioned plebian officers who were experienced on the battlefield
What was praefecti?
prefects - commanded the auxiliaries of the cavalry
What were decriones?
decurions - commanded the decuriae
What was a sagum?
a woolen cloak for severe weather which can also be sed as a blanket
What were caligae?
leather boots with heavy hobnailed soles, fastened on by straps
What was a lorica?
leather breastplate with metal bands
What was a galea?
leather or metal helmet often ornamented with a crest
What was a scutum?
a curved, rectangular shield
What was a pilum?
throwing javelin or pike
What was a gladius?
heavy, two edged sword
What was the aquila?
eagle - the standard of the legion made of silver or bronze mounted on a pole carried by the aquilifer
What was the signum?
standard of a cohort or maniple carried by the signifer
What was the vexillum?
rectangular banner or flag - standard for the axiliaries
What was the acies triplex?
triple battle line usual battle formation of a legion
What was the secunda acies?
second line - 3 cohorts stationed 150 feet behind the first line - relieved the wounded or fallen soldiers of the first
What was the tertia acies?
third line - last 3 cohorts
What was a tuba?
trumpet - a straight instrument, three feet long, of metal
What was a cornu?
horn - a large curved instrument of metal
What was the agmen?
the main column of legionary troops
What was the primum agmen?
the vanguard consisting of scouts, cavalry squads and light-armed infantrymen
What was the novissimum agmen?
the rear guard consisted of the least experienced
What was the impedimenta?
baggage that followed the legion, carried on pack animals or wagons - food, extra weapons, clothing, artillery, tools, etc.
What was the sarcina?
personal knapsack of a soldier
What did the term impeditus mean?
refers to when a soldier was wearing his sarcina
What did the term expeditus mean?
refers to when a soldier was not wearing his sarcina
What was an iter?
average day’s march covered 15 miles from sunrise to noon
What was a castra?
camp - bilt after a day’s march for retreat - rectangular in shape
What were the portae?
gates at opposite ends of each street - four total
What was a fossa?
a ditch or trench dug around the camp
What was an agger (definition 1)?
a mond or embankment surounding the entire camp and constructed from the eath dug for the fossa
What was a vallum?
rampart - a defensive wall made of the agger and a row of strong wooden stakes or palisades driven in at the outer edge of the agger
What was a tabernacla?
soldiers’ tents made of leather and holding 10 men each
What was a tessara?
military password used to get into the camp
What were the vigiliae?
the four “watches” into which the night was divided
When was the prima vigilia?
6PM to 9PM
When was the secunda vigilia?
9PM to 12 Midnight
When was the tertia vigilia?
12 Midnight to 3AM
When was the quarta vigilia?
3AM to 6AM
What was an agger (definition 2)?
sloping plane made of earth, stones and logs - gradually lengthened to be the same hight and depth as the wall of the city being attacked - sed as a means of aproach and for moving up siege machines
What was an aries?
a battering ram
What was a testudo?
a protective screen formed by the overlapping of shields held ina tortoise like fashion
What was the tormenta?
artillery
What was a ballista?
a machine for hurling heavy stones and blocks of wood
What was a cataplta?
hurled large arrows and javelins
What was a scorpio?
light catapult for urling stones and darts
What was a navis longa?
a batleship propelled by oars and sails
What was the rostrum?
the “beak” of the ship used for ramming other ships (pl. speaker’s platform)
What was the most common of the naves longae?
the trireme which had three banks of oars
What was the navis oneraria?
transport ship - broader and much slower than a battleship - carried soldiers, horses, and provisions - propelled chiefly by sails
What was a tutor?
The guardian of an underage son or unmarried daughter of pater familias
What was the gens?
Group of people with the same nomen - common ancestor through males
What was the stirps?
Group of people with the same cognomen
What was the agnatio?
Relation though males
What was cognatio?
Blood relation
What was the dictionary entry for pater?
pater, patris, m. - father
What was the dictionary entry for mater?
mater, matris, f. - mother
What was the dictionary entry for filius?
filius, -i, m. - son
What was the dictionary entry for filia?
filia, -ae, f. -daughter
What was the dictionary entry for frater?
frater, fratris, m. - brother
What was the dictionary entry for soror?
soror, sororis, f. - sister
What was the dictionary entry for avus?
avus, -i, m. grandfather
What was the dictionary entry for avia?
avia, -ae, f. grandmother
What was the dictionary entry for patruus?
patruus, -i, m. uncle on the father’s side
What was the dictionary entry for amita?
amita, -ae, f. aunt on father’s side
What was the dictionary entry for avunculus?
avunculus, -i, m. uncle on mother’s side
What was the dictionary entry for matertera?
matertera, -ae, f. aunt on mother’s side
What was the dictionary entry for nepos?
nepos, nepotis, m. - grandson, nephew
What was the dictionary entry for neptis?
neptis, neptis, f. - granddaughter, niece
What was the ius osculi?
Right to kiss
What were adfines?
Relatives through marriage only
What was the dictionary entry for ianitrices?
ianitrices, -um, f. pl. - women who married brothers
What was adoptio?
Adoption of a filius familias or son
What was adrogatio?
Adoption of a pater familias
What was patria potestas?
Power of the father of the household over his family
What was the property a pater familias would assign his children?
peculia
What were the 7 ways for the extinction of potestas?
- death of a pater familias 2. emancipatio filii/filiae 3. pater familias’s loss of citizenship 4. son becomes a flamen dialis or daughter becomes virgo vestalis 5. father or child adopted by a third party 6. daughter passes in manum to her husband 7. son went into office (would be independent for the duration of his term)
What was the manus?
The power of a man over his wife
What was the term for the share a wife would get?
in loco filiae
What was dominica potestas?
power of pater familias over slaves and inanimate objects
What was the vestibulum?
open courtyard between the street and the door to the house
What was the ostium/ianua?
door or doorway - doors had one huge cylindrical hinge
What was the fauces?
passage or entrance to the atrium
What was the atrium (cavum aedium)?
main room or center of the house
What was the impluvium?
large basin for collecting rain water that fell from the compluvium
What was the compluvium?
a hole in the roof that allowed light to pass through
What were the alae?
“wings” (had no door between it and the atrium) on either side of the atrium that might contain imagines
What were the imagines?
wax busts of the family’s ancestors
What was the triclinium?
dining room with three couches - customary to have several for the change of seasons
What was the tab(u)linum?
master’s study - separated from atrium by curtains (vela/aulaea) and the peristylum by folding doors
What was the andron?
passage between the atrium and the peristylum - avoids the tab(u)linum in order to give the master privacy
What was the taberna?
shop where the household sold goods - usually has doors to both the house and the street
What was the cubiculum diurnum?
bedroom for midday siesta
What was the cubiculum dnocturnum or dormitorium?
small bedroom or sleeping quarter
What was the peristy(i)lium?
large open courtyard surrounded by columns
What was the latrina?
bathroom - always next to culina
What was the culina?
kitchen - place for slaves to cook
What was a Tuscanicum ?
atrium where the roof was formed by two pairs of beams crossing each other at right angles to form a square hole (compluvium) - no columns
What was a tetrastylon?
atrium where beams of the roof were supported by four pillars or columns at each angle
What was a Corinthium?
atrium where beams of the roof were supported by more than four columns
What was a disluvinatum?
roof sloped outward to gutters for catching rain water but still had a compluvium
What was a testudinatum?
atrium where the roof had no compluvium or impluvium - probably used windows in the alae
What is a ianua?
door or doorway - doors had one huge cylindrical hinge
What was the ostium?
front door
What was the ianuarius/ostiarius?
doorkeeper
What were fores?
double doors
what was the posticum?
back or side door
What was a lectus/torus?
couch or bed
What was a fulcrum?
bed post - detachable head or elbow rest
What was a scamnum?
foot stool used to reach the bed
What was a sella?
stool for one person
What was a subsellium?
stool for more than one person (bench)
What was a sella curulis?
“curule seat” with curved legs of ivory, could be folded up
What was a cathedra?
chair with a curved back and no arms
What was a mensa?
table
What was a monopodium?
small table with one leg
What was a mensa delphica?
table with three legs
What was a lucerna?
Roman lamp that used oil (lampus - Greek lamp)
What was a candelabrum?
used to hold several lucernae (origionally meant for candelae, candes or wax lights)
What was an arca?
strongbox or chest kept in the tablinum
What was a horologium?
clock
What was a solarium?
sundial brought from Greece in 268BC
What was a clepsydra?
water clock (allowed water to pass through at a certain rate filling it up at marks to tell time
What was the opus quadratum?
use of larged dressed stone laid out in horizontal rectangular courses as is done now on walls
What was the opus africanum?
massive horizontal and vertical blocks of smaller blocks
What was the opus caementicium?
massive horizontal and vertical blocks of smaller blocks
What was the opus testaecum?
use of a concrete core wall with brike or tile facing
What was the opus incertum?
use of bricks joined together by cement irregularly
What was the opus reticulatum?
“net-like work” - use of bricks of equal shape and size
What was the opus vittatum?
use of long and short masonary blocks on walls
What was the opus vermiculatum?
mosaic on the interior of walls
What was a tegulae?
subrectangular, slightly tapering tiles for roofing
What were the imbrices?
tubes cut in half lengthways for covering flanges on the sides of the tegulae
What was the pavimentum?
floors of the poor - stones, bricks and tiles pounded together and leveled by a havy rammer (fistuca)
What was used to heat rooms with chimneys?
furnace with pipes that went under the floor or through hollow floor tiles
What was an opus sectile?
patterned floor surfacing
What was an opus signinum?
waterproof lining for cisterns
What were the lares?
household gods
What was the lararium?
shrine to the lares
What were the penates?
gods of the cupboards
What were the lecti tricliniares and where were they?
dining couches in the triclinium
What was the locus summus?
“the highest place”
What was the locus medium?
“the middle place”
What was the locus imus?
“the lowest place”
What was the locus consularis?
place of honor for the consul - the locus imus of the lectus medius
Where did the host sit?
next to the consul - the locus summus of the lectus imus
What was sponsalia?
betrothal
What was the sponsus?
fiance, betrothed man - “he having been promised”
What was the sponsa?
feancee, betrothed woman - “she having been promised”
What was the anulus?
wedding ring - worn on the right finger of the left hand because it was believed that vein went from the finger straight to the heart.
What was the breaking of betrothal through nuntius called?
repudium renuntiare
What did infamia mean?
man could not recover his betrothal presents if he brok the betrothal (i.e. the iron ring, anulus pronubus, or some money arra.
What did the phrase nubere mean?
term for women used to mean “to marry” - literally “to veil oneself”
What did the phrase in matrimonium ducere mean?
term used for men to mean “to marry” - literally “to lead into matrimony”
What was Matronalia and when was it celebrated?
March 1 - Mother’s Day (and Wives’ Day too)
What was the manus?
the power of a husband over his wife
What did the term in manus viri mean?
“under the power of her husband” - women passed under this during marriage, particularly the confarreatio
What was the usus how did it work?
plebian form of marriage - did not involve manus - wife remained in power of her father, not her husband - she was allowed property if she stayed away from her husband for the duration of a trinoctium(three nights) - a plebeian marriage was considered promiscuous intercourse and was not a iustae nuptiae (just/legal marriage)
What was the coemptio and how did it work?
mock sale marriage / ficticious sale of the bride - around since the time of Servius - involved a libripens - involved a dowry - had to have 5 witnesses
What was a libripens?
sale-holder who laid a single coin on a scale
What is the dictionary entry for dos?
dos, dotis, f. - dowry
What was the tunica recta (tunica regilla)?
woven on upright loom - bridal tunic
What was the flammeum?
saffron veil worn by bride
What was the nodus Herculaneus?
knot on bride’s dress only to be untied by husband
Into how many was a woman’s hair tied into?
6
What was used to divide the bride’s hair?
hasta caelibaris
What was used to tie a bride’s divided locks of hair?
ribbons called vittae
What was the confarreatio and how was it executed?
most elaborate, religious marriage - bride and groom brought together by the pronuba. She joined their right hands - on the day of the wedding, the groom was accompanied to bride’s house by relatives, friends, and clients bound to him in every honor
What was the pronuba?
matron that was married to her first husband
What was the dextrarum iunctio?
The joining of the right hands of the bride and the groom by the pronuba in the confarreatio
How many witnesses were required to be present for the dextrarum iunctio and who did they consist of?
10 gentes of the curia
What was the cumera and who carried it?
covered basket with utensils - carried by the camillus - a boy who was “patrimus et matrimus” (i.e. both parents were still living)
What was the deductio?
the taking of the bride to the house of the husband - public procession - anyone can join - also the procession of the client and patron to the forum
What was feliciter?
word shouted during deductio to say congratulations or good luck
During the deductio, what lewd and lascivious verses were sung and to who?
versus Fescennini were sung to Talassius (or Talassio) a sibine god
What did the groom do as a sign of fruitfulness?
scattered nuts through the crowd
Why was the wife carried over the threshold of the groom’s house?
to avoid such a bad omen as her tripping over it as she enters the house for the first time
What did the woman say during a confarreatio?
“Ubi tu Gaius, ego Gaia” (when you are Gaius, I am Gaia)
What did the husband offer to his wife and where in the confarreatio?
he offered fire and water to her in his atrium
When the wife arrived in the household of her husband, what did she kindle the fire with?
the torch carried in front of her during the deductio
What lucky possession was thrown into the crowd after the woman arrived to her husband’s house in a confarreatio?
the torch the bride used to kindle the fire in her husband’s atrium
What was the cena cuptialis?
the wedding feast
What was the mustaceum?
the wedding cake
What was the wedding feast soaked in and what was it served on?
it was steeped in must (new wine) and served on bay leaves
What was the repotia?
the second feast the day after the ceremony
What did the wife do during the repotia?
she gave her first offerings as a matrona
What were the requirements for a nuptiae iustae?
- pater familias had to give his consent (under Augustus, if he refused, he had to give a good reason why) 2. both partes had to be puberes (i.e. man had to be 14, woman 12) 3. both had to be unmarried (no polygamous marriages) 4. could not be closely related - nevery directly ascended or descended from each other - no cognates of the fourth degree
If all requirements were met for a nuptiae iustae, what were the children considered?
they would be iusti liberi (legitimate children) and cives optimo iure (citizens with the best right)
What was ius conubii?
right of marriage
If one party was not a citizen but had ius conubii, what happened?
marriage was still iustae nuptiae - children took the status of their father
If one party did not have ius conubi, what happened?
marriage was nuptiae iniustae / matrimonium iniustum - children took the status of the lower parent
What were the unlucky days for marriage?
- the Kalends, Nones, and Ides of every month and the day after each 2. all of May and the first half of June (Lemuria {May 9, 11, 13} and dies religiosi, (days to honor vesta) 3. dies parentales - February 13 - 21 4. August 24, October 5, November 8 - entrance to the Underworld open 5. major holidays were avoided but not necessarily unlucky (women marrying for a second time purposely chose holidays to get married to be less conspicuous)
What was the praenomen?
The first name of a Roman’s full name
What was the nomen?
The second name, name of the gens
What was the cognomen?
The third or last name, name of the stirps
What did the praenomen abbreviation A. or Au. stand for?
Aulus
What did the praenomen abbreviation App. stand for?
Appius
What did the praenomen abbreviation D. stand for?
Decimus
What did the praenomen abbreviation C. stand for?
Gaius
What did the praenomen abbreviation Cn. stand for?
Gnaeus
What did the praenomen abbreviation K. stand for?
Kaeso
What did the praenomen abbreviation L. stand for?
Kaeso/Caeso
What did the praenomen abbreviation M. stand for?
Marcus
What did the praenomen abbreviation M’. stand for?
Manius
What did the praenomen abbreviation Mam. stand for?
Mamercus
What did the praenomen abbreviation N. stand for?
Numerius
What did the praenomen abbreviation P. stand for?
Publius
What did the praenomen abbreviation Q. stand for?
Quinuts
What did the praenomen abbreviation S. stand for?
Spurius
What did the praenomen abbreviation Ser. stand for?
Servius
What did the praenomen abbreviation Sex. stand for?
Sextus
What did the praenomen abbreviation T. stand for?
Titus
What did the praenomen abbreviation Ti. stand for?
Tiberius
What did the praenomen abbreviation V. stand for?
Vibius
From what origin did the name ending -acus come from?
Gallic
From what origin did the name ending -na come from?
Etruscan
From what origin did the name ending -enus come from?
Umbrian or Picene
From what origin did the name ending -anus/-ensis/-ius come from?
Attached to the ends of town names
What was the agnomen?
The fourth name or nickname (earned name)
How was a slave’s name name constructed?
genitive of master’s name + -por, -poris (from puer)
How was a freedman’s name constructed?
his own praenomen + master’s nomen + slave’s name
What was a basterna?
lectica with 2 mules instead of carriers
What was a pilentum?
four-wheeled, two-horsed cart for vestals and priests
What was a carpentum?
two-wheeled, two horsed cart for vestals and priests
What was a petoritum?
cart used for baggage, slaves, and also to carry spoils in triumph
What was a carruca?
luxurious traveling cart with a bed
What was a raeda?
large and heavy, four-wheeled, cart with either two or four horses
What was a cisium?
quick, light, two-wheeled, two-horsed, uncovered cart
What was the agger (viae)?
the mound on either side of the road
What was the semitae/margines?
footpaths or sidewalks
What was the glarea?
gravel the would replace stones on cheap roads
What was the deversoria?
private stopping places along a road
