Marcus Agrippa: Right-hand Man of Caesar Augustus by Lindsay Powell Read Free Book Online Page A

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    Augustus – ‘Revered One’, honorific title voted to C. Iulius Caesar (Octavius) and his successor Ti. Caesar.
    Aureus – ‘Gold’, highest denomination gold coin worth 25 denarii ( aurei pl.).
    Auspex – Soothsayer specializing in interpreting flight of birds.
    Auxilia – ‘Helpers’, support troops of allied or non-Roman citizens.
    Ballista – Artillery weapon throwing bolts or stones.
    Bellator – ‘Warrior’, Roman war-fighter ( bellatores pl.).
    Bipennis – Double-headed ax used by Asturian and Cantabrian warriors.
    Campus Martius – ‘Field of Mars’, a large park and recreation ground in northwest Rome where Roman citizens assembled to vote.
    Capitolinus – Hill in Rome on which was built the Temple of Iupiter Optimus Maximus ( Capitolium ).
    Carru triumphali – Decorated chariot used in a triumph.
    Catapulta – Artillery weapon throwing bolts.
    Censor – Magistrate in charge of the census .
    Census – Assessment of taxable assets carried out every five years ( lustum ).
    Centuria – ‘Century’, unit of 8 contubernia 80 men; 60 centuries formed a legio .
    Centurio – ‘Centurion’, officer in charge of a centuria .
    Clementia – ‘Clemency’, the Roman virtue of showing mercy.
    Cohors – ‘Cohort’, unit of six centuries or twelve in a First Cohort ( cohortes pl.).
    Cohors Praetoria – ‘Praetorian Cohorts’, Praetorian Guard.
    Colonia – ‘Colony’, city founded for retired legionaries.
    Commilitio – ‘Fellow soldier’, a form of address to legionaries usually by a senior office ( commilitiones pl.).
    Confarreatio – Traditional form of wedding.
    Concilium – Advisory committee of the senior commanding officer formed of his immediate reports.
    Consul – One of the two highest magistrates of the Res Publica , elected annually.
    Contio – ‘Meeting’, an address by a magistrate to the people or the commander to his troops to present a proposal.
    Corvus – Moveable fighting platform used on a warship.
    Cuneus – ‘Wedge’, attack formation used by Roman army.
    Curator viarum – Manager of roads ( curatores pl.).
    Curia – Senate House (originally the Curia Hostilia , rebuilt as the Curia Iulia ).
    Cursus honorum – Career ladder leading to entry into the Senate as a senator.
    Denarius – Silver coin, worth 4 sestertii ( denarii pl.).
    Dictator – The man granted supreme decision making power in the state for a limited time.
    Dominatio – ‘Tyranny’.
    Dupondius – Bronze coin, worth 2 asses or one half a sestertius (dupondii pl.).
    Editor – Sponsor of the ludi or munera.
    Equites – ‘Knights’, the middle or business class of Roman society.
    Evocatus – Reservist ( evocati pl.)
    Exercitus – Army.
    Fasces – The tied bundle of rods around an axe carried by lictores as a symbol of the consul’s or praetor’s high office.
    Feria – Public holiday and festival day ( feriae pl.).
    Flamen – Priest ( flamines pl.).
    Framea – Germanic spear or javelin ( frameae pl.).
    Frater – ‘Brother’, a form of address used by soldiers ( fratres pl.).
    Forum Romanum – Roman Forum in central Rome.
    Gladius – Short stabbing and thrusting weapon used by legionaries ( gladii pl.).
    Harpax – Chain with hook or claw fired from a catalpulta.
    Hasta – Javelin used by Roman auxilia and cavalry.
    Honesta – ‘Honesty’, the Roman virtue of respectability.
    Hostis publicus – ‘Public enemy’, enemy of the state.
    Humanitas – ‘Humanity’, the Roman virtue associated with being cultured from having a good education.
    Ianus – ‘Arch’, triumphal arch.
    Imago – Mask of wax made during the lifetime of a Roman citizen; military standard bearing a small statue bust of the princeps .
    Impedimenta – Baggage train.
    Imperator – ‘Commander’, a title shouted by troops to a victorious leader.
    Imperium – ‘Power’, originally given to consuls and praetors, including the right to wage war.
    Imperium proconsulare – Legal power to