NLE Culture List

Founders of Rome

Romulus and Remus, found by shepherd Faustulus, fathered by Mars and Rhea Silvia, nursed by lupa

Kings of Rome

Romulus, Numa Pompilius, Ancus Marcius, Tullus Hostilius, Tarquinius Priscus, Servius Tullius, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus

Genetic Founders of the Roman Race

Aenas, son of Venus and Ascanius, son Ascanius, wives Creausa and Lavinia

atrium

entrance

tablina

study

impluvium and compluvium in atrium

for rain water

cubiculum

bedroom

culina

kitchen

peristilium

columned walk way

hortus

garden

apodyterium

changing room; theft of clothing not uncommon

caldarium

hot room

tepidarium

cool room

frigidarium

cold room

palaestra

exercise grounds

strigilis et unguentum

strigil and oil

thermae/balneae

baths (meeting friends and making business connections)

SPQR

Senatus Populusque Romanus (The Senate and Roman People)

censor

monitored census and public morality

aedile

maintined public buildings

praetor

public games and judge

quaestor

treasurer

consul

highest public position; elected annually; in charge of senat

tribunes

representatives of the common people

imperator/princeps

emperor

Erebus

primordial god of the Underworld

Thanatos

personification of death

Chthonic

general term for deities of the Underworld

Hecate, goddess of the Underworld depicted with three bodies

Pluto

Hades

Proserpina

Persephone

Asphodel Fields in Underworld

ordinary souls

Elysium in Underworld

heroes and blessed souls

Tartarus s in Underworld

wicked; imprisoned Titans

Styx River in Underworld

“hate/detest” separating the upper world from the Underworld

Phlegethon River in Underworld

“flaming”

Acheron River in Underworld

“woe”

Lethe River in Underworld

“forgetfulness”

Cocytus River in Underworld

“wailing”

Punic/Carthaginian Wars

battle of Cannae, battle of Zama, elephants, Hannibal, Scipio Africanus, salting of Carthage

haruspex

(nspects animal entrails

augures

watch the flights of birds

pontifex maximus

head priest, originally bridge builders

flamines (priests)

priests; sacrifices make the gods happy

ientaculum

breakfast, a small meal, usually leftovers

prandium

lunch

cena

dinner

common foods

mala (apples), uvae (grapes), panis (bread), vinum (wine), etc./ab ovo usque mala

palla

mantle, cloak worn by women

bulla

necklace, charm worn by children

toga praetexta

oga with broad purple stripe made from purple Tyrian dye from the Murex snail/shell

tunica

tunic (like a xxx size t-shirt)

stolla

a female dress

praenomen

given name (e.g., GAIUS Julius Caesar);

NB: not uncommon for girls to be named after the feminized form of their father's name (e.g., Cornelia for Cornelius)

nomen

clan name (e.g., Marcus TULLIUS Cicero)

cognomen

family name/started as nickname (Publius Ovidius NASO)

Tantalus (Punished in Underworld)

receding water and food

Ixion (Punished in Underworld)

spinning wheel

Danaides (Punished in Underworld)

carrying leaking pots

Sisyphus (Punished in Underworld)

the rolling rock

Tityus (Punished in Underworld)

liver eaten out by eagles

Kalends

1st of the month

Nones

5th or 7th of the month

Ides

the 13th or 15th of the month

ave, imperator, nos morituri te salutamus

we who are about to die salute you

184 BCE

Aeneas (genetic father of the Roman race) arrive in Italy

753 BC

Monarchy with Romulus

508 BC

The Republic with Brutus as first consul

44 BC

Julius Caesar assassinated

14 AD T

he Empire with Augustus

Roman Weddings

flammeum (bride's bright orange yellow veil), ring finger same as today b/c a nerve that ran directly to the heart, wife carried over threshold of home (abduction of Sabine women), "quando tu Gaius, ego Gaia"

Buildings of Rome

Circus Maximus (chariot races and various ludi/games)

Colosseum/Flavian Amphitheater

gladiatorial and others ludicrous/games

Basilica

court and legal meetings

Pantheon

built by Agrippa and later Hadrian for worshipping all the gods

Curia

the senate house in the Forum

Temple of Vesta

circular, built for goddess of hearth/home, Vestal Virgins cared for sacred flames

domus

wealthy city homes

insulae

apartment block, dangerous, prone to fires

villa

large country homes

aestas, aestatis, f.,

summer

hiems, hiemis, f.,

winter

ver, veris, n.,

spring

autumnus, -i, m.,

autumn

Horatius Cocles

was a famous Roman General known for defending the Pons Sublicus, the Roman Bridge crossing the Tiber River, during the siege of Rome by Lars Porsenna.

Mucius Scaevola (Early Roman History)

While the Etruscan King Lars Porsenna was besieging Rome, Scaevola, a young Roman, entered the enemy camp and tried to assassinate Porsenna, but instead kills one of his secretaries. To show his toughness, Scaevola voluntarily places his right hand in a fire. Impressed, Porsenna lets him go, and in gratitude Scaevola informs him there is no less that 300 men in Rome who are looking to kill him. Mucius is given the name Scaevola, which means "left hand" and is rewarded with land by the senate of Rome

Cincinnatus (Early Roman History)

A roman aristocrat and dictator. Regarded as a hero of aristocrats and opponent of plebeians. His son was convicted and executed, and he was forced to go live and work on a farm, until an invasion forced him to become a dictator of Rome. After he had defeated the tribes responsible for the interference however, he immediately resigned, which is seen as very noble and humble.

Cincinnatus Stayed dictator for 6 months and won the war