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Glossary
Diana E. E. Kleiner (Editor), Susan B. Matheson (Editor)
Description: I, Claudia: Women in Ancient Rome
I, Claudia: Women in Ancient Rome
Glossary
Author
Diana E. E. Kleiner (Editor), Susan B. Matheson (Editor)
PublisherYale University Art Gallery
Copyright© 1996 Yale University Art Gallery
Stable URL: https://aaeportal.com/?id=-31705
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Glossary
adulterium: adultery; made a criminal offense in 18 BC by Augustus with the Lex Julia de adulteriis coercendis (q.v.).
auctoritas: influence, authority; an important virtue for Romans pursuing a public career.
Augusta/us: majestic; an honorific title conferred upon members of the imperial family by the Senate.
bucranium: sculpted likeness of a bovine skull adorned with garlands.
bulla: amulet worn by children.
carpentum: four-wheeled cart.
chiton: garment, worn by either children or women, fastened with pins at the shoulders and girdled at the waist.
cista mystica: cylindrical basket used in mystery cults.
cliens: client; one who owes allegiance to a patronus (q.v.) to whom she/he is usually somehow indebted.
columbarium: vaulted structure of niches in which cinerary urns were placed.
concordia: state of peaceful agreement, concord.
consul: chief executive official of the Roman constitution during the Republic.
contubernium: unofficial marriage between a slave and a slave or between a slave and a free person.
corona civica: crown awarded for military prowess.
curia: senate house.
Cybele: goddess whose worship was brought to Rome from Asia Minor during the Second Punic War (ca. 208 BC); also called Magna Mater.
damnatio memoriae: practice whereby the memory of an individual was abolished by decree of the Senate.
dextrarum iunctio: joining of the right hands; symbolizes a bond between two parties, frequently used in depictions of marriage.
Diva/us: divine; a title conferred on some members of the imperial family.
emancipatio: practice whereby a paterfamilias (q.v.) frees his children from his absolute control.
eques (pl. equites): a distinct social order in Roman society, between the senate and the plebs.
erotes: cupids.
fecunditas: fecundity, fertility.
fortuna: chance, good fortune; also tyche.
fortuna muliebris: women’s fortune.
genetrix: creator, mother; an epithet of Venus, to whom a special temple was dedicated and whose iconography was frequently appropriated by Roman empresses.
genius: guardian spirit of Roman males (cf. juno).
gens: family, clan.
hilaritas: cheerfulness, joyousness.
imago clipeata: portrait relief in the form of a sculpted shield.
juno: guardian spirit of Roman females (cf. genius); Juno: the Roman goddess of marriage and childbirth, and the wife of Jupiter.
kline: bed, couch.
kyrios: a woman’s official guardian.
lenocinium: practice of pimping; a criminal charge brought against men who tolerated adulterous affairs of their wives.
Lex Iulia de adulteriis coercendis: legislation sponsored in 18 BC by Augustus that defined adultery as a criminal offense.
Lex Iulia de maritandis ordinibus: legislation sponsored in 18 BC by Augustus that regulated marriage.
Lex Papia Poppaea: legislation sponsored by Augustus in 9 that moderated the Lex Iulia de maritandis ordinibus.
Lex Voconia: legislation passed in 169 BC that prohibited men from naming women as heirs to their estate.
libertina/us (also liberta/us): freedmen; men or women who were formerly slaves and, as such, subject to specific legal restrictions.
lictor: armed bodyguard who accompanied important officials in Rome.
macellum: marketplace.
Magna Mater: see Cybele.
manus: absolute power of a husband over his wife and her property.
Mater Patriae: mother of her country; an honorific title bestowed on some Roman empresses (cf. Pater Patriae).
nodus: hairstyle characterized by a roll of hair above the forehead.
paludamentum: military cloak.
Pater Patriae: father of one’s country; an honorific title bestowed on some Roman emperors (cf. Mater Patriae).
paterfamilias: male head of a household.
patria potestas: absolute power of the paterfamilias over members of his household.
patronus: patron; one to whom allegiance is owed by a cliens (q.v.).
pax: peace.
peplos: garment worn by women, which was pinned at the shoulder.
pietas: religious devotion to one’s state, religion, and family.
porticus: building comprised of a series of archways, often housing works of art.
praetor: official of the Roman Republic, second to the consul.
princeps: first, foremost; title used by Augustus and by all later emperors. The term, “Principate” derived from this title, is used to describe the regime immediately following the Republic.
pudicitia: chastity, humility.
puellae Faustinianae: girls who benefited from a welfare program set up by Antoninus Pius in honor of his wife, Faustina the Elder.
quaestor: financial official of the Roman Republic; first office sought by men pursuing a career in politics.
Res Gestae: deeds accomplished; title of an official record of Augustus’s accomplishments, benefactions, and building projects.
res publica: republic; regime of consuls, praetors, and other elected officials; replaced by the Principate.
rostra: public speaking platform in the Roman Forum.
sacrosanctitas: absolute sacredness or inviolability.
sine manibus: marriage that does not involve the custom of manus (q.v.).
sui iuris: a Roman’s independence from any legal guardian.
thermae: baths.
tribunus: official of the Republic who could veto legislation from the Senate.
toga praetexta: toga distinguished by a broad purple border; worn only by magistrates and young children.
toga virilis: toga worn by young men on coming of age.
tyche: see fortuna.
univira: a woman who has married only one man.