rulings. back
Praetor Chief law officer and deputy to the consuls. back
Primus Pilus The most senior, decorated and experienced centurion of a legion, given command of the double-strength first century of the first cohort, which would mean 160 legionaries at full strength. back
Pteruges Leather strips protruding from under the cuirass that offered some protection for the shoulders and thighs. back
Pugio Dagger. back
Quaestor An officer in charge of military and civic treasury, as well as record-keeping. back
Quaestorium In the late Republic, a Roman military camp’s supply tent, as well as the quarters of the quaestor. During the Empire, the quaestorium came to be used to store booty and high-ranking prisoners. back
Quintilis The seventh month of the pre-Julian Roman calendar, i.e. July. back
Quinquereme A large Roman warship with five rowers to a side on three levels. back
Raeda 4-wheeled carriage, usually pulled by two, sometimes four horses. back
Rage of the Dog Star See malaria
Rostra The large, raised platform in the Comitium where consuls and other magistrates spoke to the Roman people. back
Sagum Military cloak. back
Salve Good Day! Good Morning! Also used in bidding farewell, as was vale. Ave is a less formal usage and “would seem to be more a morning greeting or a simple expression of goodwill” (http://catholicforum.fisheaters.com/index.php?topic=2667068.0;wap2). back
Salutatio A time-honored tradition of the patron-client relationship. At the start of each day, the patron would don his toga, open the doors to his home and give audience to all the men dependent on him for council, favors and money. In return, the clients might be asked to perform certain services, such as drumming up political support or gathering information. back
Scutum Roman shield. During the late Republic, the shield had evolved into a convex rectangle of several plies of wood, approximately 4 feet tall by 2-1/2 feet wide. The center held an iron boss, used both offensively and defensively. This shield, or some variation of it, was at least as important a part of a legionary’s kit as his weapons (a foot soldier’s armor was far from invulnerable). It weighed anywhere from 12 to 22 pounds. Unless on parade or in battle, the shield was kept dry in a goatskin or leather bag. back
Serapeum It is said that the Royal Library of Alexandria, the greatest collection of books in the known world, was accidentally destroyed by Julius Caesar during his war with Pompey. The surviving scrolls were moved the temple of Serapis, or the Serapeum. back
Sestercius Brass Roman coin worth one quarter of a silver denarius; plural: sesterces. 100 sesterces equaled 1 gold aureus. back
Sherwal Baggy trousers tied at the ankles. The garment originated in Persia but is still worn today by Kurds and other peoples of the Levant and Middle East. back
Sixth hour The Roman sixth hour of the day was always noon; The sixth hour of the night was always midnight. back
Sol Invictus Latin: another name for Mithra
Somnus Roman god of sleep. back
Stoa Greek. An open, columned, covered portico or walkway, sometimes storied. back
Stola Long sleeveless tunic worn by women over other tunics; a symbol of marriage. back
Strigil In the Roman baths, after oil has been applied, this curved metal tool was used to scrape dirt and sweat from the body. back
Subligaculum Underwear worn by either men or women, usually a wrapped loin cloth. back
Tablinum Room usually between atrium and peristyle where guests were received and records kept. back
Tepidarium The warm bath where Romans soaked after the steam or hot bath, then cleaned themselves before venturing into the frigidarium, or cold pool. It did not always have a pool, but did keep its occupants warm with heated walls and flooring. back
Theater of Pompeius A derivative work of a 3D, Computer generated image of the Theatre of Pompey by the model maker, Lasha Tskhondia. The temple of Venus Victrix is at the lower left, the Portico is at the upper right. Below, an early 19th century lithograph by A. Schill depicting, from the left, the stage building, the stage itself (front curtain removed), the semi-circle of the orchestra, seating and the temple of Venus Victrix. back
Toga praetexta The toga of the curule magistrate, off-white, with a 2- to 3-inch wide purple border along one side. Also worn by boys until the age of sixteen or seventeen, and by men engaged in sacred rites. back
Tonsor Barber. back
Triclinium The dining room in a Roman house, its name derived from the fact that three wide couches, each accommodating up to three diners, comprised the seating. A table in the center held food and the fourth side