Daily Life Vocabulary - Test 3

INCOMPLETE — All vocabulary terms from daily life lectures for test 3/part of the exam

VENATIO / VENATIONES

Hunting event in which venatores caught wild animals and bestiarii killed them

BESTIARIUS / BESTIARII

Gladiators who fought wild animals

LUDUS / LUDI

Gladiator school under a lanista in which gladiators lived and trained, often separated by specialty → shares name with the public games that included gladiator fights

LANISTA

Owner and head of a gladiator training school, literally ‘manager of gladiators’ → often a former gladiator

FAMILIA

The group associated with the support/management of a gladiator, including the lanista, comrades, and blood-family

GLADIUS / GLADIATOR

The term for an armed fighter in entertainment events that fought other humans (not animals) → derived from gladius, a short double-edged thrusting sword used in close combat

RUDIS

Wooden sword or rod given to victorious gladiators as a symbol of freedom → freed could work as trainers, referees, or continue fighting for honour/wealth

RUDIARIUS

A gladiator that had received a rudis but chose to remain a gladiator, fighting with pole arms → popular due to their experience

HARENA

Latin term for both sand and arena → wooden floor of arenas being covered by sand

EDITOR

Organiser of gladiatorial games

HONORIUS

Roman emperor that legally ended gladiator games in 399 and 404

AMPHITHEATRE

Open-air venue for entertainment, performances, and sports typically built on hillsides with a oval/circular design → first likely built at Pompeii ~70 B.C.

AMPHI + THEATRUM (THÉĀTRON)

Terms deriving from Ancient Greek, amphi meaning ‘on both sides’ or ‘around’ and theatrum or théātron meaning ‘place for viewing’ → combined in amphitheatre

COLOSSEUM

• Amphitheatre in the centre of Rome

• Largest ancient amphitheatre ever built

• Began under Vespasian in 72 and completed in 80 under Titus → further modifications under Domitian

TITUS FLAVIUS VESPASIANUS / CAESAR VESPASIANUS AUGUSTUS

Known as Vespasian, Roman emperor from 69-70 A.D. under whom construction of the Colosseum began

TITUS FLAVIUS VESPASIANUS / TITUS CAESAR VESPASIANUS AUGUSTUS

Known as Titus, successor to Vespasian and Roman emperor from 79-81 A.D., seeing the completion of the Colosseum

TITUS FLAVIUS DOMITIANUS / CAESAR DOMITANUS AUGUSTUS

Known as Domitian, a Roman emperor from 81-96 A.D. who modified the Colosseum, adding a fourth level and finishing the interior seating → known for using rhinoceros in his games in the Colosseum, images of the rhinos appearing on his coins

FLAVIAN AMPHITHEATRE

Name given to the Colosseum due to its being constructed and modified entirely by the Flavian dynasty → Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian

COLOSSUS SOLIS

Originally called Colossus Neronis, a statue created by Nero in his villa to which Vespasian added a sun crown, then renaming it Colossus Solis for the sun god Sol → moved from the villa to nearby the Colosseum under Hadrian

VELUM

Type of Roman awning also called a velarium, meaning ‘curtain’, that stretched over the seating area in amphitheatres to protect from the sun

GAIUS MAENIUS

• Stateman and general that was consul once, dictator twice, and censor once in 318 B.C.

• As censor, provided buildings in Forum’s neighbourhood with balconies to allow spectators more room to view games within temporary arenas in the forum

• As a result, balconies were called maeniana after him

What were the tiers of seating in the Colosseum?

1. Podium

2. Maenianum primum

3. Maenianum secundum imum

4. Maenianum secundum summum

5. Maenianum summum in ligneis/porticus

PODIUM

• After special boxes, the best seating in the Colosseum

• On the same level as special boxes

• Broad platform on which people placed their own chairs

• Used by the senatorial class

MAENIANUM PRIMUM

• Tier above the podium

• Used by the non-senatorial nobles, equestrians

MAENIANUM SECUNDUM IMUM

• A division of the maenianum secundum, the tier above the maenianum primum

• Specifically the lower part of the maenianum secundum

• Used by wealthy citizens → not the elite, still ordinary citizens

MAENIANUM SECUNDUM SUMMUM

• A division of the maenianum secundum, the tier above the maenianum primum

• Specifically the upper part of the maenianum secundum

• Used by poorer citizens

MAENIANUM SECUNDUM IN LEGNEIS / PORTICUS

• Tier added above the maenianum secundum under Domitian

• Likely was standing room only, or otherwise had very steep wooden benches

• Used by the common poor, slaves, and women

PLINY THE ELDER (GAIUS PLINIUS SECUNDUS)

Author, naturalist, scientist, military commander, procurator, and friend of Vespasian → described a Circus event put on by Pompey where 20 elephants were killed with spears, causing the audience to protest against the excessive violence

CASSIUS DIO

Historian and senator that described the Colosseum’s use of elephants, the death of over 9000 wild animals in the inaugural games, and the damage sustained after a fire in 217

MARTIAL (MARCUS VALERIUS MARTIALIS)

Roman and Celtic poet that published works in Rome → the earliest of his works were published at the opening of the Colosseum, describing his theatrical performances

CONDEMNATIO AD BESTIAS

Capital punishment in which convicts had to fight wild animals, usually equipped only with a short sword (no armour) → lack of experience and poor equipment ensured their deaths

CONDEMNATIO AD GLADIUS

Capital punishment in which convicts had to fight against a gladiator, this gladiator potentially being specially for executions → disputed about how much this execution is true

CONDEMNATIO AD LUDUM

Capital punishment in which convicts had to serve their time in a ludus, usually allowed pardon after three years

ST. AUGUSTINE

Christian theologian and philosopher from Roman Africa who described his friend Alypius’ experience with gladiatorial games

ALYPIUS

As described by St. Augustine:

• Hated violence of gladiatorial games but was dragged to one by his friends

• Protests by trying to close his eyes → his ears, left open, expose him to sounds of the crowd

• Intrigued, he opens his eyes and begins enjoying the events alongside the crowd

• Described having left with a ‘diseased mind’ → later ‘repents’ of the experience

MISSUM FAC!

A chant used in gladiator fights meaning ‘let him go’

MISSOS FAC!

A chant used in gladiator fights meaning ‘let them go’

IUGULA!

A chant used in gladiator fights literally meaning ‘slit his throat’, essentially used as ‘kill him’ → used to cheer one gladiator to take victory

HOC HABET!

A chant used in gladiator fights literally meaning ‘he’s had this’, essentially used as ‘he’s had it’ → used to describe a gladiator’s being wounded

SUMMA RUDIS

• Alongside the secunda rudis, the referee in gladiator games

• Carry wooden sticks, rudis, and potentially whips for wild animals

• Wear narrow, purple stripes

SECUNDA RUDIS

• Assistant referee to the summa rudis

• Carry wooden sticks, rudis, and potentially whips for wild an