CLA 2103 Lec 1

What are the Roman Numerals for 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000?

I, V, X, L, C, D, M

What is the Roman numeral system based on?

The Ancient Greek alphabet

When does counting become subjective in Roman numerals?

After 3,000

Visual etymology of 'I' (1)

One finger

Visual etymology of 'V' (5)

Shape of thumb and index finger

Visual etymology of 'X' (10)

Two 'V's

Visual etymology of 'L' (50)

Greek psi (flattened into upside-down T)

Visual etymology of 'C' (100)

Greek theta (matches Latin centum)

Visual etymology of 'D' (500)

Half of Greek phi

Visual etymology of 'M' (1000)

Greek phi (matches Latin mille)

Roman numeral for 2026

MMXXVI

Roman numeral for 3000

MMM

Roman numeral for 1600

MDC

Roman numeral for 753

DCCLIII

Roman numeral for 509

DIX

Roman numeral for 180

CLXXX

What year was Rome inhabited?

1600 BC

What year was Rome mythologically founded?

753 BC

Who mythologically founded Rome?

Romulus and Remus

Years of the Etruscan Tarquinian Dynasty rule

753–509 BC

Years of the Early Republic

509–343 BC

Years of the Samnite Wars / Roman expansion

343–264 BC

Years of the High Republic / Punic Wars

264–146 BC

Years of the Late Republic / Civil Wars / 1st Triumvirate

146–44 BC

Years of the Fall of Republic / 2nd Triumvirate

44 BC–14 AD

What year was the birth of the Roman Empire?

14 AD

What percentage of early Roman societal focus was military?

50%

What reliably followed Roman territorial expansion?

Monumental political instability and civil war

Who makes up the Capitoline Triad?

Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva

Who originally dedicated the land for the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus?

Lucius Tarquinius Priscus (Etruscan king)

Who finished building the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus?

Lucius Tarquinius Superbus (last king of Rome)

What is augury?

Defining the will of the gods by watching the flight paths/times of birds

Which two gods famously refused to move for Jupiter's temple?

Terminus (god of boundaries) and Juventas (goddess of youth/healing)

Who rebuilt the Temple of Jupiter after the 83 BC fire?

Quintus Lutatius Catulus (minor)

How did early Romans track elapsed years since the Republic's founding?

The supreme officer drove a nail (clavus) into Minerva's chapel inside Jupiter's temple on the Ides of September

Why was the annual nail driven into Minerva's temple section?

She was considered the goddess of numbers, calculations, and invention

Where did the Romans likely inherit the year-nailing practice from?

The Etruscans (who nailed years into the temple of goddess Nortia)