Aeneas-the Trojan hero of Virgil's epic poem Aeneid; he survives the fall of Troy, wanders the world for seven years, and eventually becomes the--legendary--founder of Rome.
Amphitheatre-a structure competely enclosed on all sides, intended for gladiatorial battles and other forms of entertainment
Apollo-in Roman religion, the god of art, music, and the sun
Augurs-in early Roman religion, interpreters of signs from the gods
Capitoline Triad-in Roman religion, the three most important gods (Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva)
Castra-a military camp
Cataphractii-units of heavily armored cavalry in the Roman military
Centurion-a general term describing the commander of a century; there were many different ranks of centurions in the Roman military
Century-the battlefield unit in the Roman military, consisting of about 100 men; part of a cohort; commanded by a centurion
Ceres-in Roman religion, the goddess of the harvest; adopted from the Greek goddess Demeter
Cilent-a member of the pleibeian class who was under the protection of a patron, who was usually a member of the patrician social class
Cohort-a division in the Roman military, consisting of about 600 men; part of a legion; divided into centuries
Comitatensis-the mobile army in the Roman military; opposites of the limitanei
Comitia Centuriata-in Roman government, the body that approved most of the King's decisions; mostly comprised of patricians
Comitia Tributa-in Roman government, the governing body made up of representatives from each of the curiae; passed resolutions
Consistory-the council of five magistrates that advised the emperors and helped them govern the empire
Curiae-groups or tribes loosely related by family bonds; made up the Comitia Tributa
Diana-in Roman religion, the goddess of the hunt; adopted from the Greek goddess Artemis
Felicitas-a female figure representing happiness; often appeared on Roman coins
First Triumvate-the three imperators who first joined to take power from the Senate: Julius Caesar, Gnaeus Pompey, and Marcus Licinius Crassus
Gravitas-a sense of purpose; one of the traits believed to be necessary for a man to have in Roman society
Imperators-generals in the Roman army that gained enough power to take over the reigns of government from the Senate
Insula-any single city block in a Roman city; often contained a fountain on one corner
Ius Sacrum-in early Roman religion, an extremely strict code of worship; interpreted--and enforced--by the twelve Pontiffs
Janus-in early Roman religion, one of the Numina Gods; guardian of the doorway
Juno-in Roman religion, the queen of the gods; adopted from the Greek goddess Hera
Jupiter-in Roman religion, the god of heaven, earth, and justice; adopted from the Greek god Zeus
Lares-in early Roman religion, one type of the Numina Gods; guardians of the fields
Latifundia-large estates owned by the wealthy
Legion-a defensive unit in the Roman military, usually consisting of about 4000 soldiers; divided into cohorts
Limitanei-defenders of the frontier in the Roman military; opposites of the comitatensis
Magistrates-executive and judicial government officials, who were appointed by the Senate
Maniple-the battlefield unit in the Roman military, consisting of two centuries
Mars-in Roman religion, the god of war; adopted from the Greek god Aries
Mercury-in Roman religion, the god thieves; also Jupiter's messenger; adopted from the Greek god Hermes
Minerva-in Roman religion, the goddess of knowledge and wisdom; adopted from the Greek goddess Athena
Neptune-in Roman religion, the god of the seas and oceans; adopted from the Greek god Poseidon
Nototia Dignitatum-the Registry of Important Civil and Military Offices, which contained--among other things--the jobs descriptions and names of the current magistrates
Numina Gods-the Lares, the Penates, Jares, and Vesta; the gods of the early Roman religion
Patria Potestas-supreme jurisdiction of the father in Roman society
Patriarch-the father in Roman society; had the religious duty of the pietas
Patrician-the upper class of Roman society; descendants of the original curiae
Patron-a member of the patrician class who protected (and received service from) a client, who was usually a member of the plebeian social class
Pedagogue-a private tutor
Penates-in early Roman religion, one type of the Numina Gods; guardians of the home and the food supply
Peristilios-decorative gardens found in the villas of the patricians
Pietas-in Roman religion, making the proper sacrifices at the right times; usually the duty of the patriarch
Plebeians-the commoners of Roman society; those below the patrician class; made up of plebs rustica and plebs urbana
Plebs rustica-the plebeians that lived in the country; opposites of the plebs urbana
Plebs urbana-the plebeians that lived in the cities; opposites of the plebs rustica
Pluto-in Roman religion, the god of the underworld; adopted from the Greek god Hades
Pomerium-the outer wall of Roman cities; part of the standard layout for cities
Pontifex Maximus-in early Roman religion, the chief interpreter of the Ius Sacrum; elected for life; leader of the twelve Pontiffs
Pontiffs-in early Roman religion, the thwelve Pontiffs interpreted (and enforced) the Ius Sacrum; led by the Pontifex Maximus
Pozzolana-a fine sand, usually from volcanoes, that was very hard and could resist the wear and abrasion better than limestone (which was previously the material of choice)
Praetorian Perfect-the commander of the Praetorian Guard
Praetorian Guard-the emperor's bodyguards in the Roman military; commanded by the Praetorian Perfect
Prefectures-one of the three large administrative regions into which the empire was divided; each one under the control of a Praetorian Perfect
Remus-in Roman legend, he was the twin brother of Romulus; legend has it that he was abandoned as an infant, and had survived by suckling a wolf
Romulus-the first king of Rome; in Roman legend, the founder of Rome, who had been abandoned as an infant (along with his twin brother Remus) and had survived by suckling a wolf
Sagitarii-units of mounted archers in the Roman military
Scholae Palatinae-the palace guards, which replaced the Praetorian Guard
Senate-a sometimes-advisory, sometimes-legislative body of Roman Government; for most of its existence, made up of one hundred members chosen from the Patrician social class
Testudo-a defensive setup used by the Roman military to protect the heads and sides of soldiers; it consisted of shields arranged in a box formation
Thermae-Roman public baths; host to bathing, relaxation, and social activities;
Venus-in Roman religion, the goddess of love; adopted from the Greek goddess Aphrodite
Vesta-in early Roman religion, one of the Numina Gods; guardian of the hearth
Via Praetoria-one of the two main streets in a Roman castra; perpendicular to the Via Principia
Via Principia-one of the two main streets in a Roman castra; perpendicular to the Via Praetoria
Villas-grand houses; residences of the patricians; often contained peristilios
Voussoir-tapered stone blocks arranged together in a half circle, then layered with pozzolana cement; these arches were used in the construction of bridges, and are considered one of Rome's greatest technological achievements
Vulcan-in Roman religion, the god of fire and blacksmiths; adopted from the Greek god Hephaistos