Rom Lit: Key Words

Achates

Achates is the young companion of Aeneas during the war of the Italian tribes. When he is killed by Turnus, the character takes his medallion and wears it, serving as the tipping point for Aeneas, leading to Turnus’ death.

Actaeon

Actaeon, a character in Ovid’s Metamorphosis, is a descendant of Cadmus, the founder and first king of Thebes. While on a hunt, he accidentally sees the goddess Diana bathing. As punishment, he is turned into a deer and is later torn apart by his hunting dogs while his hunting partners look on.

Agrippina the Younger

Agrippina the Younger is the mother of Nero and wife of the emperor before him, Claudius. As a descendant of Augustus, she is also Nero’s tie to Caesar's legacy. She is theorized to have poisoned multiple people who were in the way of Nero becoming the emperor, even going as far as to poison her husband and emperor Claudius.

Agrippa

Agrippa was a Roman general and close ally of then emperor Augustus Caesar. He is credited with creating the Pantheon, and setting the foundation for the Roman Empire.

Amata

Amata, a character from the Aeneid, is the mother of Lavinina, the woman Aeneas is destined to marry. She commits suicide during the conflict of Turnus and Aeneas.

Anchises

Anchises, from the Aeneid, is the father of Aeneas. During the fall of Troy, he escapes with his son, grandson, and his household gods by being carried on Aeneas’ back. While he doesn’t survive through the work, his ghost guides his son when he visits the afterlife.

Ascanius (Iulus)

Iulus is the son of Aeneas, who escapes with him at the fall of Troy. He sends Nisus and Euryalus to tell his father that the Latins are approaching, who do not succeed.

Cadmus

Cadmus, a character in Ovid’s Metamorphosis, is the founder and first king of Thebes. While searching for his sister, Europa, he is instead sent to follow a cow to find a new land, has all his soldiers killed, kills a dragon, and plants seeds to get new citizens.

Caligula

A tyrannical emperor who only lasted 4 years before he was assassinated. He is most well-known for declaring war on the sea.

Capitoline Hill

One of Rome’s hills and also the most important of them. It housed the temple for Jupiter and other important political and religious buildings.

Cato the Younger

Cato the Younger was a senator at the time of Julius Caesar. He sided with Pompey against Caesar and eventually committed suicide instead of being taken prisoner.

Claudius

The emperor before Nero, he married his mother Agrippina the Younger and adopted him as well. He was also a descendant of Augustus and therefore Julius.

Cleopatra

One of the rulers of Egypt. During the war with Caesar, she commits suicide with Mark Antony. Many Roman writers find her suicide inspiring.

Consul

The highest political power in ancient Rome serving as co-leaders of Rome.

Daphne

Nymph with incredible beauty who was a follower of Artemis. After Apollo, deluded with Cupid’s arrow, finally catches her after pursuing her, she turns into a laurel to avoid him.

Echo

Nymph who used to distract Juno while other nymphs slept with Jupiter and because of that, cursed with only being able to repeat the last words of another. She falls in love and pursues Narcissus and fades away into only a voice when rejected.

Encolpius

The main character of the Satyricon. He journeys with companions Giton and Ascyltos on lust-filled, debaucherous misadventures.

Europa

Daughter of Agenor and brother of Cadmus. She is tricked and kidnapped by Jupiter as he turns into a bull.

Epicurius

Ancient Greek philosopher who started the way of thought known as Epicureanism. After events such as Spartacus’s revolt and the Catiline Conspiracy, Epicureanism was introduced as a lifeline to Romans.

Erotium

A courtesan in the play The Brothers Menaechmus, she has a mainly transactional relationship with the twin who lives on the island and confuses him with the traveler twin.

Fotis

A slave woman in The Golden Donkey. While in a physical relationship with Lucius (MC) she accidentally turns him into a donkey

Furius and Aurelius

In the collection of Catullus’ poems, Furius and Aurelius appear to be his friends. However, at the mention of misinterpreting his poetry, he threatens to beat them.

Io

A woman who Jupiter had an affair with. With Juno found out, she turned Io into a white cow and put her under the watch of a hundred-eye giant while torturing her. She is eventually turned back in Egypt and becomes Isis.

Iphis

A born female but disguised as male by her mother, she is betrothed to Ianthe and is in sorrow over not being able to perform male wedding duties. Her mother, Telethusa, prays to Isis and she is transformed into a male.

Latinus

The father of Lavinia and king of Latium during the Aeneid. He originally approves of the marriage between Lavinia and Aeneas after receiving a vision from his father.

Lavinia

The daughter of King Latinus and Queen Amata in the Aeneid. She is originally betrothed to Turnus before Aeneas.

Lesbia

The codename for Catullus’ affair partner in many of his poems. She is most likely Clodia, sister of Publius Clodius.

Lucius of Madaura

Writer of The Golden Donkey. His work is the only latin novel that has survived in its entirety.

Lucretia

A figure from Roman tradition. After being assaulted by Tarquin, she ends her own life. Her death sparks a rebellion that overthrows the Roman monarchy.

M. Caelius Rufus

The defendant in a case of public violence. His defender, Caelius, had his most famous speech Pro Caelio in this case. His speech also includes slander of Clodia’s character.

Mark Antony

Roman general under Caesar who defected to side with Cleopatra. Later ended his own life with her after being defeated by Octavian (Augustus).

Narcissus

A young man who is loved and rejects both men and women (specifically Echo). One of his lovers curses him to fall in love with himself, and he withers away until he turns into a flower.

Palatine Hill

Founding site of Rome by Romulus. Home of several emperors, including Nero.

Peniculus

A character from the play The Brothers Menaechmus. He is a dinner leech who survives off of being entertaining enough for the stationery brother to invite him to dinner.

Pentheus

A character in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. After viewing the secret practices of Bacchus’ cult, the god drives his mother and sister insane, and they tear him apart as they mistake him for a wild beast.

Pergamene Boy

A character mentioned in a side story in the Satyricon. He is the young boy that the poet Eumolpus seduces and the rejects as his drive is too high for him.

Pliny the Elder

Uncle of Pliny the Younger and author of multiple works. His great works and death at the Pompeii is detailed in Pliny the Younger’s letters.

Pyramus and Thisbe

A pair of lovers who sneak out the elope together. After Thisbe escapes a wild lioness, Pyramus believes she has been killed by it and commits suicide. The Thisbe commits suicide in response. (Characters in Ovid’s Metamorphoses)

Pyrrha and Deucalion

Couple and descendants of titans in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. They are the only survivors in a flood that wipes out the earth and throw stones to repopulate the earth.

Res Gestae of Augustus

The official autobiography of Augustus. It details his military works, political accomplishments, etc.

Sabine Women

Figures from Roman tradition. They are abducted from the Sabine tribes during a rigged festival and join Roman families. When the males of the Sabine tribe attempt to fight the Romans, the women step in to stop them.

Tribune of the Plebs

The Tribune of the Plebs was a political position that could veto the decisions of the magistrate in order to protect the citizens.

Turnus

A character in the Aeneid. He is the king of a Latin tribe and is goaded by Juno into starting a war with Aeneas. He is killed at the end of the Aeneid during a duel with Aeneas.

Venus Genetrix

A title for the roman god Venus. She is seen as the divine ancestor of the Roman empire and directly related to character Aeneas and emperor Julius Caesar and Augustus.

Widow of Ephesus

A story told during Peniculus’ Satyricon by during Trimalchio’s party. A woman who plans to starve herself after the death of her husband is seduced by a soldier guarding prisoners on the cross. When one of the bodies disappear, the widow replaces it with her husband’s body.