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Amphora |
Jug |
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Appian Way |
Major Roman highway from Rome to Capua to Brundisium |
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Barbarians |
Greek term (derogatory) meaning "those who do not speak Greek" or "those that
stammer". The Romans used this term to describe the people who were not
part of their empire.
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Bard |
From the Celtic word bardas meaning
"singer or poet". One who sang heroic songs. Bards preserved Celtic
history and legends through songs under Roman occupation. However,
bardic knowledge such as medicine deteriorated as educated people
under Pax Romana spoke Latin. They continue (to the present day) in
Wales, Scotland and Ireland. |
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Beer |
Beer was brought to Gaul and Germany by the Romans. The
Belgians considered it to be Magic Potion. The British drank it
warm. |
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Baths |
Public bath houses started around the 1st
century B.C. and continued growing in popularity till there were
almost a thousand in the 6th century A.D. |
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Bucinas |
Round horns (like french horns ??) |
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Calends |
The first day of every month. The Roman calendar divides the year into 365
days and includes an additional day for each leap year. Julius Caesar
created this calendar based on the Egyptian calendar.
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Caligae |
Sandals (or feet).
May be hints of the wretched 'Caligula' (meaning "little boots") |
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Cauldron |
A large vessel, such as a kettle or vat, used for boiling. [Middle English,
alteration of cauderon, from Norman French diminutive of
caudiere, cooking pot, from Late Latin
caldria, from feminine
of Latin caldrius, suitable for warming, from
calidus, warm.]
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Cena |
The Romans' main daily meal |
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Centurion |
Leader of 100 men (a century) in the Roman army. In
actuality, this varies greatly. The commander of
each of the camps surrounding the village of indomitable Gauls is a centurion.
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Circus, The |
The Circus Maximus, site of gladiatorial combat in Rome. Derives from the
Latin word for cicle. Also involves people being eaten by wild beasts and
Gladiators fighting for their lives.
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Cohort |
1/10th of a legion. |
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Dolmen |
A primitive structure created by placing one large rock across two side
rocks and covered with soil to make a small mount. The stones are all that
is left today. |
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Decurion |
Leader of 10 men in the Roman army. Patrols are usually led by
decurions. Compare this to Centurion (q.v.). |
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Druid |
The word Druid may derive from an Indo-European root 'dreo-vid,' meaning
'one who knows the truth.' In practice it was probably understood to mean
something like 'wise one,' or 'philosopher-priest.' Some Druids did (and
still do) perform priestly functions; officiating in public and private
worship, initiating and instructing, healing and blessing. The 1st century
Roman author, Pliny the Elder in his almanac work called 'Histories' gives
an account of white-clad Druids climbing oak trees to cut sacred mistletoe
from them using gold sickles.
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Fatigue |
Military term for punishment duty. In the U.S. it's K.P. |
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Gladiator |
From the Latin word gladius meaning sword. Name used to refer to the
fighters in The Circus (q.v.). They were mostly prisoners of war,
condemned criminals or slaves. |
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Lanista |
Latin word for gladiator trainers. |
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Legion |
3000 to 6000 soldiers with additional cavalry. |
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Maniple (Manipule) |
Unit of Roman legion. Two centuries make a Manipule. 30 Maniules make
a legion. |
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Menhir |
Those big pointed rocks that Obelix is always carrying around. Menhirs
are standing prehistoric megalithic monuments that are known now to have
been erected (probably) between 3500 BCE and 1800 BCE before the arrival
of the Celts in Europe. Great concentrations of menhir and dolmen
are found in Ireland, Brittany (largest is in Carnac city), Spain and
Corsica. Menhir and Dolmen are celtic names given to this pre-celtic
"magic rocks". Menhir means "standing stone" in Celtic. Some menhirs are
engraved to look like warriors (especially in Corsica).
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Optio(ne) |
A staff officer who assists the commanding officer. |
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Orgy |
Any kind of party. No sex need be involved. |
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Pax Romana |
Roman Peace, enforced by the army. |
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Pilum |
Roman spear. |
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Potion |
A liquid dose, especially one of medicinal, magic, or poisonous content.
Middle English 'pocion', from Old French, from Latin 'potio',
'potion-'.
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Prefect |
A high ranking official. Usually a governor. In modern France a prefect
(préfet) is the administrator of a Department (analogous to an
Amercian County).
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Quaestor |
Treasury functionary whose position gave him access to the Senate. |
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Sestertii |
Roman money. Probably worth about $2 US today. 100 sestertii = one gold coin.
The Oxford Classical Dictionary implies that a sesterce was about five
ounces of silver. Other books roughly equate it to a British sexpense
(1957) or tuppence (1933). The orichalcum sestertius (plural: sestertii)
was the largest bronze denomination in the early Roman Empire, and it
continued, growing only gradually smaller until the reign of Postumus
(usurper in the breakaway Gallic Empire, 259-258 AD) who minted the last
sestertius. Because of their larger flan, the sestertii, particularly of
the earlier empire, had the potential for exquisite reverses which many
moneyers, particularly under the Adoptive and Antonine dynasties, used to
portray their finest works.
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SPQR |
Senatus Populus Que Romanus = The Senate and People of Rome. The mark
of the separation of the supreme power between the aristocratic senate and
the people. |
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Talent |
Variable unit of weight used in ancient Greece. Because of the close
relationship of weight and monetary worth, it was also used a currency. |