Ancient City Quiz 1

Regia

Trapezoidal building in the Roman Forum associated with Numa, the 2nd king of Rome following Romulus. Numa known for his religious rituals

Described as home of Pontifex Maximus, but probably just headquarters for rituals

3 small rooms, west sacrarium for Mars, circular hearth, contained sacred spear and shield to Mars. room on east sanctuary to Ops Consiva (goddess of abundant harvest, wife of Saturn)

Preserved cardinal direction in building of its walls

Bucchero fragment of a cup with the inscription "REX"

Lapis Niger

Oldest inscription from the city of Rome, 6th century BC

Discovered in 1899 in area of Comitium

Made from tufa, but underneath a paving of black marble (common but misleading name)

Romans not sure why it was important, but knew it was

Possible references to sacrificial motives with pontifex Maximus or something outside the King Period

Palatine Huts/Hut of Romulus

9th-8th century BCE occupation

Wattle and daub (building method)

Roman respect for early landmarks even if they aren't sure exactly what it is

Post holes visible in the bedrock of palatine, remnants of huts

Circus Maximus

Could hold around 150,000 spectators in the time of Augustus Trajan rebuilding could hope maybe up to 250,000

Believed to be the location for the rape of the Sabine women (foundation myth)

Chariot races → entertainment and spectacle as a part of the Roman identity Seven laps around the track Four different factions (teams?)

Vallis Murcia (valley between Palatine and Aventine where Circus Maximus is located)

Supposedly where hye rape of the Sabine Women happens

Spina

Central zone of CM

Carceres

CM starting gates

Meta

Turning point in CM

Tomb of the Augurs (Tarquinia)

Original figures were labelled with Etruscan writing

Etruscans were famous for augury in the eyes of the Romans

Depiction of the Phersu who is a masked figure in a violent game/ritual involving a dog and a blindfolded figure

Augury

determining favorable or unfavorable signs from the gods through observation of birds

Lituus

curved staff used by Roman augurs

Necropolis

city of the dead (cemetery)

Tumulus

Mound of earth or stone raised over a tomb

Hypogeum

an underground chamber, often a tomb

dromos

entrance passage leading to a building/tomb

Charun

male demon, blue, gatekeeper of the underworld, holds a hammer (Tomb of the Blue Demons)

Vanth

Etruscan female demon, sometimes depicted with wings and a torch

Euphronios Krater

Depicts Sarpedon being carried away by gods after death (Trojan war)

Illegally trafficked and eventually returned to Italy

Looted from Etruscan tomb around Cerveteri

Used to mix water and wine

Bucchero

matte black pottery made by the Etruscans

Boustrophedon

zigzagging style of inscription (Lapis Niger)

Impasto

matte black pottery (Villanovan?)

Hut urns

little house shaped urns characteristic of the Villanovans

Etrusco-Corinthian pottery

Shows fusion of cultures

Villanovans

indigenous people who lived in what is now Rome before the Etruscans