Customs Regional Study Guide Flashcards
In the Roman Government/social structure, what was/were the cursus honorum?
course of honors - steps you take to make it to the highest jobs (from bottom to top - quaestor, praetor, consul)
In the Roman Government/social structure, what was/were the consul?
two men - executives - elected yearly
In the Roman Government/social structure, what was/were the praetor?
judges (8 elected yearly)
In the Roman Government/social structure, what was/were the quaestor?
treasurers (20 elected yearly)
In the Roman Government/social structure, what was/were the aedile?
in charge of roads and public games (4 elected yearly)
In the Roman Government/social structure, what was/were the censor?
2 elected every five years for 18 months - in charge of taking the census and public morals
In the Roman Government/social structure, what was/were the dictator?
had absolute power in times of emergency; normally ruled 6 months maximum
In the Roman Government/social structure, what was/were the magister equitum?
master of the horse/cavalry - assistant to dictator
In the Roman Government/social structure, what was/were the senator?
must be a praetor to enter - for life
In the Roman Government/social structure, what was/were the tribune?
10 elected yearly - only plebeians can run - can veto the senate
In the Roman Government/social structure, what was/were the patricians/optimates?
highest class
In the Roman Government/social structure, what was/were the equites?
business class
In the Roman Government/social structure, what was/were the plebians/populares?
lower class
In the Roman Government/social structure, what was/were the patron?
patron
In the Roman Government/social structure, what was/were the cliens?
client
In the Roman Government/social structure, what was/were the salutatio?
visit of client to patron’s house
In the Roman Government/social structure, what was/were the sportula?
cold food basket given to client when he is received by patron in his atrium
In the Roman Government/social structure, what was/were the deductio?
patron leads clients to forum
In the Roman Government/social structure, what was/were the paterfamilias?
head of family (family includes wife, children, slaves and property)
In the Roman Government/social structure, what was/were the patria potestas?
power (of life and death in early times) of paterfamilias over family
In Chariot Racing, what was/were the metae?
turning posts
In Chariot Racing, what was/were the spina?
backbone around which they raced
In Chariot Racing, what was/were the ova et delphines?
eggs and dolphins (wood or bronze) used as lap counters
In Chariot Racing, what was/were the number of laps in a usual race?
7
In Chariot Racing, what was/were the maximum number of people that could be held in the circus maximus?
250,000
In Chariot Racing, what was/were the ludi circenses?
chariot races
In Chariot Racing, what was/were the factiones?
racing companies
In Chariot Racing, what was/were the colors of the factiones?
red (russata), white (albata), blue (veneta), green (prasina)
In Chariot Racing, what was/were the original factiones?
red, white
In Chariot Racing, what was/were the longest lasting factiones?
blue, green
In Chariot Racing, what was/were the circus maximus is between which two hills?
the Palatine and Aventine hills
In Chariot Racing, what was/were the white cloth dropped to start race?
mappa
In Chariot Racing, what was/were the biga?
2 horse chariot; quadriga - 4 horse chariot; auriga - charioteer
In Chariot Racing, what was/were the curriculum?
successfully completed lap
In Chariot Racing, what was/were the carceres?
starting gates
In Gladiator Games, what was/were the Myrmillones?
fought with helmet, oblong shield, sword, fish crest on helmet. Usually fought the retiarius or Thracians.
In Gladiator Games, what was/were the Retiarii?
lightly clad, armed with a net and trident. Usually fought Myrmillones or Secutores.
In Gladiator Games, what was/were the Samnites?
oblong shield, visored helmet, sword.
In Gladiator Games, what was/were the Thracians?
small round shield, curved scimitar.
In Gladiator Games, what was/were the Bestiarii?
hunters - fought wild beasts
In Gladiator Games, what was/were the Essedarii?
rode chariots with 2 horses.
In Gladiator Games, what was/were the Andabatae?
heavily armed, but can’t see out of visored helmet.
In Gladiator Games, what was/were the Laquearii?
armed with lasso and a curved piece of wood.
In Gladiator Games, what was/were the Secutores?
“pursuers” - like Samnite but without the neck protector
In Gladiator Games, what was/were the Hoplomachi?
full-armed with a breast-plate and visored helmet.
In Gladiator Games, what was/were the rudis?
wooden sword given to gladiators on their retirement.
In Gladiator Games, what was/were the lanista?
gladiator trainer.
In Gladiator Games, what was/were the editor munerum?
giver of games.
In Gladiator Games, what was/were the arena/harena?
sand put down to absorb the blood from a gladiator match.
In Gladiator Games, what was/were the venationes?
hunts where Bestiarii fought wild beasts.
In Gladiator Games, what was/were the premere pollicem?
to press the thumb against the forefinger - crowd wants to spare gladiators life
In Gladiator Games, what was/were the vertere pollicem?
turning the thumb upwards or towards the chest - to signify the death stroke
In Gladiator Games, when were the gladiator fights were brought to Rome?
in 264 BC
In Gladiator Games, what was/were the gladiator fights originally for?
funerals
In Gladiator Games, what was/were the naumachiae?
mock naval battles - they flooded the arena
In the Roman Baths (Thermae/Balneae), what was/were the apodyterium?
dressing room
In the Roman Baths (Thermae/Balneae), what was/were the hypocausta?
furnace
In the Roman Baths (Thermae/Balneae), what was/were the caldarium?
hot bath
In the Roman Baths (Thermae/Balneae), what was/were the frigidarium?
cold bath
In the Roman Baths (Thermae/Balneae), what was/were the unctorium?
scraping room/ massage
In the Roman Baths (Thermae/Balneae), what was/were the strigil?
scraper
In the Roman Baths (Thermae/Balneae), what was/were the palaestra?
exercise area
In a Roman School, what was/were the ludus?
elementary school
In a Roman School, what was/were the litterator?
elementary school teacher
In a Roman School, what was/were the paedagogus?
slave who carries books to school
In a Roman School, what was/were the grammaticus?
upper school teacher
In a Roman School, what was/were the rhetor?
teacher of public speaking
In a Roman School, what was/were the stylus and tabula (tabella)?
pen and notebook
In a Roman Army, what was/were the century?
smallest unit of a legion
In a Roman Army, what was/were the maniple?
double a century (later dropped in favor of a cohort)
In a Roman Army, what was/were the cohort?
6 times a century
In a Roman Army, what was/were the legion?
basic fighting unit of the Roman army
In a Roman Army, what was/were the contubernium?
6-8 men who share a tent (part of a century)
In a Roman Army, what was/were the dux?
general
In a Roman Army, what was/were the imperator?
victorious general
In a Roman Army, what was/were the legatus?
legionary commander
In a Roman Army, what was/were the centurio?
leader of a century
In a Roman Army, what was/were the optio?
2nd in command to a centurio
In a Roman Army, what was/were the toga picta?
worn by victorious generals
In a Roman Army, what was/were the tesserae?
passwords
In a Roman Army, what was/were the signum?
standard
In a Roman Army, what was/were the signifier?
holder of standard (of a century or cohort)
In a Roman Army, what was/were the aquila?
silver or bronze eagle-standard (of a legion)
In a Roman Army, what was/were the aquilifer?
holder of the eagle
In a Roman Army, what was/were the cornicen?
horn blower
In a Roman Army, what was/were the vexillum?
flag
In a Roman Army, what was/were the pedites?
infantry
In a Roman Army, what was/were the equites?
cavalry
In a Roman Army, what was/were the scorpio?
dart thrower (standing crossbow used by one man)
In a Roman Army, what was/were the ballista?
dart or stone throwing siege engine, larger than a scorpio
In a Roman Army, what was/were the onager?
siege engine (like a catapult), threw boulders; means “wild ass” for its kick
In a Roman Army, what was/were the catapulta?
siege engine which hurled javelins
In a Roman Army, what was/were the gladius?
sword
In a Roman Army, what was/were the scutum?
shield
In a Roman Army, what was/were the galea?
helmet (originally only made of leather)
In a Roman Army, what was/were the cassis?
helmet (originally only made of metal)
In a Roman Army, what was/were the hasta?
spear (used by triarii and hastati)
In a Roman Army, what was/were the lorica?
leather breastplate
In a Roman Army, what was/were the cingulum?
military belt
In a Roman Army, what was/were the caligae?
boots
In a Roman Army, what was/were the sarcina?
soldier’s cloak/blanket
In a Roman Army, what was/were the pugio?
dagger
In a Roman Wedding, what was/were the tunica recta?
white wedding dress
In a Roman Wedding, what was/were the flammeum?
“saffron” colored veil
In a Roman Wedding, what was/were the sponsalia?
engagement
In a Roman Wedding, what was/were the dos?
dowry
In a Roman Wedding, what was/were the “ubi tu Gaius, ego Gaia”?
what bride says at ceremony - “where you are, my husband, I am
In a Roman Wedding, what would a girl do the night before wedding?
a girl would dedicate her bulla to the Lares
In a Roman Wedding, what was/were the pronuba?
matron of honor
In a Roman Wedding, what was/were the bad luck to marry on?
the kalends, nones, ides (and the day after each) of any month; all of May and half of June were all unlucky days; also unlucky, the days the lower world was supposed to open: August 24, October 5, November 8.
In a Roman Wedding, what was/were the usus?
common law marriage
In a Roman Wedding, what was/were the coemptio?
fictitious sale of the bride
In a Roman Wedding, what was/were the confarreatio?
upper class marriage ceremony
In a Roman Wedding, what was/were the deductio?
procession of wedding party to forum
In Roman Religion, what was/were the Pontifex Maximus?
chief priest, elected for life
In Roman Religion, what was/were the Vestal Virgins?
start at age 6 - (30 years) learn job for 10 years, work as Vestal for 10 years, teach for 10 years - keep flame of Vesta burning, keep documents, etc. safe; only man allowed in temple (which is round) is Pontifex Maximus
In Roman Religion, what was/were the auspex?
priest who checks sky for omens (birds/lightning)
In Roman Religion, what was/were the augur?
same as auspex
In Roman Religion, what was/were the haruspex?
checks guts of animals for omens (2 hearts are bad…)
In Roman Religion, what was/were the Salii?
priests of Mars
In Roman Religion, what was/were the Lares?
household gods
In Roman Religion, what was/were the Lararium?
shrine for Lares
In Roman Religion, what was/were the Penates?
gods of cupboards
In Roman Names, what was/were the praenomen?
first name
In Roman Names, what was/were the nomen?
family name
In Roman Names, what was/were the cognomen?
name for branch of family
In Roman Names, what was/were the agnomen?
earned name
In Roman Clothing, what was/were the subligaculum?
underwear
In Roman Clothing, what was/were the tunica?
worn by all (like long t-shirt)
In Roman Clothing, what was/were the toga praetexta?
worn by boys under 16 and magistrates (with purple stripe)
In Roman Clothing, what was/were the toga virilis?
all white - worn by men over 1
In Roman Clothing, what was/were the toga pura?
same as toga virilis
In Roman Clothing, what was/were the toga libera?
same as toga virilis (boys gave up their toga praetexta on the Liberalia)
In Roman Clothing, what was/were the toga candida?
worn by men running for office; bright white (chalk)
In Roman Clothing, what was/were the toga pulla?
worn by men in mourning (called sordidati)
In Roman Clothing, what was/were the stola?
women’s dress
In Roman Clothing, what was/were the palla?
women’s shawl
In Roman Clothing, what was/were the fibula?
broach, pin
In Roman Clothing, what was/were the bulla?
child’s good luck charm
In Roman Clothing, what was/were the calceus?
shoe (for outdoors)
In Roman Clothing, what was/were the solea?
sandal for indoors
In Roman Clothing, what was/were the petasus?
broad –brimmed hat
In Roman Clothing, what was/were the pileus?
cap of freedom
In a Roman House, what was/were the atrium?
entry hallway/large meeting room
In a Roman House, what was/were the compluvium?
hole in roof of atrium - allows water i
In a Roman House, what was/were the impluvium?
basin that catches water
In a Roman House, what was/were the alae?
wings off atrium
In a Roman House, what was/were the imagines?
bust of ancestors, housed in alae
In a Roman House, what was/were the tablinum?
master’s office
In a Roman House, what was/were the triclinium?
dining room
In a Roman House, what was/were the culina?
kitchen
In a Roman House, what was/were the cubiculum?
bedroom
In a Roman House, what was/were the peristylium?
outdoor garden with columns
In a Roman House, what was/were the hortus?
regular garden
In a Roman Meal, what was/were the ientaculum?
breakfast
In a Roman Meal, what was/were the prandium?
lunch
In a Roman Meal, what was/were the thermopolium?
place to buy hot, fast food
In a Roman Meal, what was/were the cena?
dinner
In a Roman Meal, what was/were the garum, liquamen?
fish sauce
In a Roman Meal, what was/were the secunda mensa?
dessert
In a Roman Meal, what was/were the gustatio, promulsis, antecena?
appetizer
In a Roman Meal, what was/were the mulsum?
wine mixed with honey
In a Roman Meal, what was/were the mulsa?
fermented honey and water
In a Roman Meal, what was/were the mustum?
grape juice
In a Roman Meal, what was/were the acetum?
vinegar
In a Roman Meal, what was/were the comissatio?
drinking party
In a Roman Meal, what was/were the rex bibendi?
master of the drinking (he decides the games, etc.)
In a Roman Meal, what was/were the seating?
Romans reclined on their left side; there were 3 couches, each seating 3 people.
In Roman Culture, what was/were the Via Appia?
Appian Way - from Rome to Capua early on, then extended to Brundisium; known as the queen of the roads - “regina viarum” - built by Appius Claudius Caecus in 312 B
In Roman Culture, what was/were the Via Sacra?
road which ran through the forum
In Roman Culture, what was/were the Mare Nostum?
“our sea” - Mediterranea
In Roman Culture, what was/were the Patria potestas?
power of father over familia
In Roman Culture, what was/were the Pater familias?
head of family
In Roman Culture, what was/were the basilica?
law court
In Roman Culture, what was/were the curia?
senate house
In Roman Culture, what was/were the cloaca maxima?
great sewer
In Roman Culture, what was/were the insulae?
apartment buildings
In Roman Culture, what was/were the vigiles?
firemen/police
In Roman Vehicles, what was/were the cisium?
lightweight, 2 wheeled vehicle
In Roman Vehicles, what was/were the raeda?
4 wheeled carriage, comfortable and large
In Roman Vehicles, what was/were the lectica?
litter (carried by 4 slaves)
In Roman Funerals, what was/were the praeficae?
professional mourners
In Roman Funerals, what was/were the neniae?
dirges
In Roman Funerals, what was/were the conclamatio?
oldest son shakes father 3 times and calls his name
In Roman Funerals, what was/were the sarcophagus?
stone coffin
In Roman Funerals, what was/were the columbarium?
underground chamber for urns holding the ashes of a cremated person
