Cities of Vesuvius: Pompeii and Herculaneum Glossary

A comprehensive vocabulary review of key terms related to Roman public and private life in Pompeii and Herculaneum, as well as terminology used in volcanic excavation and conservation.

Aediles

Magistrates responsible for maintaining public buildings and spaces.

Amphitheatre

An oval shaped building providing seating, entertainment venue.

Atrium

Open space, central public space of Roman house and centre of religious and social activity.

Basilica

Justice building.

Capitolium

Temple of Jupiter – dedicated to Jupiter, Minerva, Juno, state religion.

Caupona

A bar, tavern, inn.

Castellum

Main water tank.

Client

The subservient in a relationship who has a patron for protection and guidance.

Compluvium

Square cut hole in the roof of a private house within the atrium to provide light, air, water.

Dolia

Terracotta pots in thermopolia contained drinks.

Dominus

Master, the head of the domus.

Domus

Roman household.

Familia

Roman family that lived in the household including the slaves.

Forum

A public Roman space with buildings used for town gathering, official religion and trade.

Fullonica

Cleaning and production of cloth for clothing, laundry.

Garum

Fish sauce.

Genius

God of the male line of descent, the family spirits.

Impluvium

The shallow pool which collected rain water under the compluvium.

Lararium

Private shrine of household gods.

Libertus

A former slave who has gained freedom.

Macellum

Large, covered meat and fish market in the Forum.

Odeon

Small theatre.

Palaestra

Public exercise ground for military and youth.

Paterfamilias

Highest ranking male in a family, Roman household patriarchal.

Peristyle

A colonnade around an outside private garden.

Pistrinum

A shop that produces and sells bread, bakery.

Programmata

Epigraphic sources – election slogans.

Senator

Roman who has public office within the senate of Rome.

Taberna

Small workshops opening onto the street.

Tablinum

Public reception area of the atrium where household records are kept.

Thermae

Hot baths in a communal bath complex.

Thermopolium

A shop that produces and serves hot food and drinks.

Triclinium

Formal dining room in private homes containing three couches.

Vestibulum

Entrance area to a private house.

Villa rustica

A working farmhouse and property, often also a vineyard.

Insula

A block of buildings with roads surrounding.

Pumice

Volcanic rock due to the air content is light in weight.

Pyroclastic flow

Volcanic debris and gas flowing at a fast pace similar to a snow avalanche.

Strata (singular stratum)

Layers of material built up or deposited at a site.

Stratigraphic

Study of arrangement of layers of volcanic ash deposited.

Tufa

A volcanic stone that is produced from the volcano.

Vulcanology

Scientific study of the eruption of volcanoes.