Key Terms and Concepts of Ancient Rome

Latini

shepherds & farmers in district of Latium

Via Salaria

the Great Salt Way

Urbs

city

Cloaca Maxima

great sewer

Forum Romanum

roman forum

Miliarium aureum

golden milestone

Curia

Senate House

Rostra

platform where speeches were made, ships' prows

Via Sacra

Sacred Way avenue through Forum for processions

Caementicium

concrete

Urbem latericiam accepi, marmoream reliqui

boast of Augustus "I found Rome built of brick and left it made of marble

Emporia

riverside markets on Rome's river port

Horrea

warehouses for imports/exports

Insula Tiberina

Tiber Island

Insulae

block long tenement houses

Patronus

patron

Salutatio

morning call

Sportula

little basket with food, money, etc

Caesarem iam sultari

The emperor is receiving

Equites

equestrian class

Plebs

plebeian class

Plebicula

little plebs

Sol invictus Mithras

ancient spirit of light

Horoscopos

horoscope

Ludi

games

Ludi scaenici

theatrical shows

Ludi circenses

chariot races

Ludi Romani

oldest games

Factiones

teams in chariot race

Mappa

napkin to signal start

Spina

central platform where eggs were hoisted

Meta

turning point of track

Munera

gladiatorial shows

Venationes

gladiator shows that involved exotic animals

Naumachiae

naval battles

Amphitheatrum Flavium

Colosseum

Triumphator

march through the city

Porta Triumphalis

A gate

A libellis

secretary in charge of petitions

Augusti libertus

Freedmen of the emperor

Coronis aureis

gold crowns

Liberti, libertae

freedmen

Seviri Augustales

1 of 6 priests who were appointed could be a freedman

Servi Caesaris

slaves who were personal assistants to emperor

Liberti Augusti

freedmen who were personal assistants to emperor

Ab epistulis

correspondence

Accounts

a rationibus

Ornamenta praetoria

honorary pratorship, special privileges that are normally possessed by a praetor