Ch. 33 & 34 Culture Flashcards
Two risks involved in childbirth in the ancient world.
miscarriages and infant/child mortality
What happened to Julia, daughter of Julius Caesar, before she could give birth
died in childbirth because of miscarriage
Two causes of death of poor mothers and infants
malnutrition and lack of medical attention
What heinous practice was sometimes adopted by those unable/unwilling to bring up their children?
abandon them to die or be picked up on the street
Two ceremonies following birth
1) father takes baby in arms to acknowledge legitimacy
2) 8th day, girl/9th day, boy—purification when child is named
What sorts of small presents strung together as a necklace would be given to children?
small everyday objects: swords, axes, etc.
What is the Latin for gold, bronze, or leather locket given to children?
bulla
What does the bulla contain?
a lucky charm or mascot
What are some typical things that Roman children played with?
terracotta dolls, pet mice, birds, dogs, and ponies
heads and tails
Capita et navia
What are some games/activities Roman children played?
building toy houses, playing odds and evens, riding a long stick, harnessing mice to a little cart
Who wrote about the devastation felt by Regulus upon his son’s death?
Pliny
Lucretius
death no longer affords domestic harmony
Virgil
a happy family in a country setting
Catullus
a delightful wish for a family/baby
What were the spheres over which Apollo exercised divine power?
sun, harmony, calm, music, poetry, archery, medicine, disease, prophecy
Where was Delphi located in Greece?
southern slopes of Mount Parnassus, 2,000 ft above the Gulf of Corinth
What is the name given to the two 1,000-foot great cliffs that tower above Delphi?
the Shining Rocks
What is the name given to the road taken by Quintus and Pompey to the sacred Delphic precinct?
Sacred Way (Via Sacra)
Why was Apollo called Pythian and his Delphic prophetess Pythia?
Apollo killed Python, the dragon who guarded Delphi
What role did Zeus play in establishing Delphi as the center of the world?
He sent 2 eagles from the opposite ends of the sky and they met at Delphi
What was the Lydian king Croesus told by Pythia? What was the result?
If Croesus crossed the river Halys, he will destroy a mighty empire.
His own empire was defeated (not Persia as he had assumed)
What was Athenian general Themistocles told by Pythia? What was the result?
that the wooden wall only shall not fail
(Athen’s wooden ships would save Athens) Athens won a great naval victory at Salamis
What are the most important/well-preserved architectural monuments at Delphi?
the treasury of the Athenians, stadium, temple of Apollo, theater
What was the famous natural phenomenon at Delphi? What did it provide Roman poets?
Castalian Spring
purification and inspiration
grave inscription name
epitaphs
