Caecubum According to Theodor Mommsen, “the most prized of all” wines before the age of Augustus
Calamus Reed pen, writing utensil
Calidarium Roman steam bath
Caligae Boots
Capena Gate The gate through which the Appian Way enters the city of Rome
Cenaculum Apartment, flat; plural: cenacula
Century Roman army unit composed of ten contuberniums, or eighty legionaries
Clientes Clients: those who depended upon the power and influence of their patrons
Columba Dove
Commisatio Drinking bout
Comitium The center of all political activity in Rome
Compluvium An opening in the roof of a Roman atrium which let in light and air. Rainwater would fall to be collected in a pool below called an impluvium
Consuls Similar to co-presidents, they were joint heads of the Roman state and were elected to a one-year term
Contubernium The basic eight-man unit of the Roman army in the first century B.C.E. Also the term used for an intimate relationship between two slaves, who were not allowed to marry
Cubiculum Bedroom in a Roman house or villa
Culina Latin: kitchen
Curia Where the senate met in the Comitium
Cursus honorum The progression of offices each magistrate had to climb on his way up the Roman political ladder
Decuria A group of ten slaves
Denarius Silver Roman coin worth four sesterces
Domina Mistress of a Roman household
Dominus Master of a household
Domus House
Drachm A coin of the ancient Middle East
Familia The family members, including servants and slaves, of a Roman household
Famula A female slave, handmaid
Fibula Clasp or brooch
Fortuna Goddess of Luck
Frigidarium The bathing pool in the Roman baths that was unheated
Furina Goddess of thieves
Furtum Theft
Garum Aromatic fish sauce
Gladius Short sword, plural: gladii
Grammaticus Teacher
Imperatore General who has won a great victory
Imperium the power of magistrates to command armies and (within limits) to coerce citizens
Impluvium A shallow pool, usually to be found in the atrium, that captured rainwater from an opening in the roof (the compluvium)
Insulae Apartment houses
Kalends The first day of the month in the Roman calendar
Lacerna A cloak fastened on the right shoulder by a buckle (fibula)
Lares Domestici Minor Roman deities whose function was to guard and oversee all that transpired in the home
Lararium Household shrine usually found in the Atrium
Latifundium Large Roman farming estate
Laudatio Funebris Eulogy
Lectus Couch, bed
Legate Commander of a legion; one with authority delegated by a consul or magistrate
Liburna A faster and more maneuverable warship than the trireme
Lora A cheap wine for slaves made from grape-skins, pulp and stalks left in the vat, soaked in water and allowed to ferment; a thin, bitter brew
Lorarius A slave whose job it was to punish other slaves by flogging; also, in the arena, a person who encouraged reluctant animals or humans with a whip
Lorica Armor
Lorum A leather whip
Ludi Public games
Magus Sorcerer, magician
Maniple Roman army unit. Two centuries equal one maniple.
Ministratore Servant, waiter
Nobiles Patrician families possessing most of the power in the Republic
Optimates Conservative, aristocratic senators who wished to limit the power of the popular assemblies in favor of the senate
Optio Junior officer, assistant to a centurion
Orarium A small, linen handkerchief for wiping the face
Ornator Slave who adorned or dressed his master; f. ornatrix (who concentrated more on her domina’s hair
Otium The Roman concept of leisure, ideally occupied by pursuits of philosophy, art and music in a natural setting
Paedagogus A slave or freedman in charge of educating children of rich Roman households
Palla Cloak
Paludamentum The official cloak worn by a Roman commander in the field
Pater The seventh and highest level of Mithraic initiation. Only the pater was allow to marry
Paterfamilias Head of the household: the father.
Pater Patratus In Mithraism, the equivalent of Pope
Peculium Long sleeveless tunic worn by Roman women
Peplos Long sleeveless tunic worn by Roman women
Peristyle A spacious courtyard, open to the sky, framed by a covered colonnade
Petronia Amnis Stream running along the Quirinal Hill
Pilum Roman throwing spear; plural: pila
Plebeians Free, non-citizens of Rome, also called plebs
Polykleitos Greek sculptor, ca. 430 B.C.
Pomerium The spiritual limits of the city of Rome, marked by cippi, small pedestals used as boundary posts
Pontifex Maximus Supreme supervisor of all things religious, and of matters of worship both public and private. Guardian of the ancient customs. The Pontifex was not subject to any court of law or punishment. The pontifex maximus was elected for life.
Populares Aristocrats, like the optimates, but favoring stronger representation of the people in the popular assemblies and tribunes of the plebs who wielded power to veto senate rulings.
Praefurnia Ovens used to heat Roman homes and baths
Praetor Chief law officer and deputy to the consuls