Caecilia Scantia Vestal priestess
Caesarion Son of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar
Caeso Guard of the Vestal Pomponia
Calidus Wealthy landowner who conspired against Licinia
Calpurnia Wife of Julius Caesar
Cassia The name of a deceased Vestal priestess; also the name of a Vestal serving in Tivoli
Cassius Senator and assassin of Julius Caesar
Charmion Adviser to and slave of Cleopatra
Cicero Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman orator and statesman
Claudia Drusilla Sister of Livia Drusilla
Cleopatra VII Philopator Queen of Egypt
Cleopatra Selene Daughter of Cleopatra and Antony
Cossinia Vestal priestess serving in Tivoli
Despina Chief slave in the house of Octavian and Livia
Diodorus Greek friend of Livia’s first husband, Tiberius
Drusus Younger son of Livia Drusilla with her first husband Tiberius
Fabiana Vestalis Maxima, or high priestess of the Vestal order
Flamma Famed gladiator
Flavia Vestal priestess
Gallus Gratius Januarius Chariot racer
Gnaeus Carbo Roman general whose legions were defeated by the Cimbri and who conspired against Licinia
Iras Adviser to and slave of Cleopatra
Julia Caesaris filia Daughter of Octavian
Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar, Roman general and dictator
Laenas Centurion in Carbo’s legions
Lepidus Pontifex Maximus, or chief priest of Rome
Licinia Vestal priestess
Livia Drusilla Roman noblewoman
Lucretia Manlia Vestal priestess
Maecenas Gaius Maecenas, close political adviser to Octavian
Marc Antony Roman general, second to Julius Caesar
Marcellus Octavian’s nephew; Octavia’s son from her first marriage
Marius Friend of Quintus in Alexandria
Medousa Greek slave of the Vestal Pomponia
Nona Fonteia Vestal priestess
Octavian Great-nephew and adoptive son of Julius Caesar, becomes Rome’s first emperor
Octavia Sister of Octavian
Perseus Fabiana’s dog (named after the hero who slew Medusa)
Pomponia Occia Vestal priestess
Publius Guard of the Vestal Pomponia
Quintina Vedia Elder daughter of Quintus and Valeria
Quintus Vedius Tacitus Priest of Mars, former soldier under Julius Caesar
Rufus Marcus Sergius Rufus, a soldier accused of being with Licinia; also the name of his son
Sabina Novice Vestal
Scribonia Roman noblewoman, mother of Julia
Sextus Pompey Son of Pompey the Great
Septimus Young priest of Mars in Tivoli
Tacita Vedia Younger daughter of Quintus and Valeria
Taurus Senator and wealthy patron of the amphitheater
Tiberius Claudius Nero First husband of Livia Drusilla; also the name of their son
Tuccia Vestal priestess
Tullia Vestal priestess
Valeria Wife of Quintus Vedius Tacitus
Roman Gods, Goddesses &
Mythical Figures
Aeneas A Trojan hero who fled the burning city and became the ancestor of Rome’s founder, Romulus
Apollo The god of the sun and the arts
Athena The Greek goddess of wisdom; the Greek equivalent of Minerva
Atlas Titan who held the heavens on his shoulders
Basilisk A snakelike monster
Cerberus The three-headed hound of Hades that guards the entrance to the underworld
Ceres The goddess of grain
Charon The ferryman of Hades; carries souls across the River Styx
Charybdis A sea monster in Homer’s Odyssey; counterpart of Scylla
Clementia The goddess of clemency and leniency
Clytemnestra The sister of Helen of Troy
Concordia The goddess of harmony and agreement
Cyclops A one-eyed monster from Homer’s Odyssey
Diana The goddess of the hunt
Dis Pater A god of the underworld
Discordia The goddess of discord
Edesia The goddess of feasts
Europa A woman who fell in love with Zeus, who came to her in the form of a bull
Fates Three goddesses who determine human destiny
Fortuna The goddess of fortune and luck
Gorgons Three sisters with snakes for hair; their gaze turned all who met it into stone
Hades The underworld; also the Greek name for Pluto
Harpy A terrifying mythical creature that is half bird and half woman
Helen of Troy A beautiful woman whose supposed abduction by the prince of Troy angered her husband, a Greek king, and started the Trojan War; credited with being “the face that launched a thousand ships”
Hera The Greek equivalent of Juno
Hercules A legendary hero famous for his strength
Isis An Egyptian goddess
Janus The two-faced god of beginnings and endings
Juno The wife of Jupiter; goddess of marriage
Jupiter The king of the gods; god of thunder and the sky
Laocoön A Trojan priest who tried in vain to warn his people about the dangers of the Trojan horse
Luna The goddess of the moon
Lupa The she-wolf that nursed Romulus and his brother Remus
Mars The god of war
Medea The enchantress who helped Jason and the Argonauts find the Golden Fleece
Medusa A snake-haired Gorgon; looking at her face turned people to stone
Mercury The messenger god
Midas A legendary king with the power to turn whatever he touched to gold
Minerva The goddess of wisdom
Minotaur A monster with the head of a bull and body of a man
Nemean lion A giant lion with an impenetrable hide; killed by Hercules as one of his twelve labors
Neptune The god of the sea
Pegasus A white, winged horse belonging to Zeus
Perseus The legendary hero who slew the Gorgon Medusa
Pluto The god of Hades, the underworld
Proserpina The queen of the underworld
Remus One of the sons of Rhea Silvia; brother of Romulus
Rhea Silvia A Vestal Virgin; mother, by Mars, of the twins Romulus and Remus
Romulus The legendary founder of Rome
Scylla A sea monster in Homer’s Odyssey; counterpart of Charybdis
Spes The goddess of hope
Tiberinus The god of the Tiber River, often called Father Tiber
Trojan horse A massive wooden horse presented as a gift to the besieged city of Troy by the attacking Greeks; hiding inside the horse, however, were Greek soldiers who, once the gift had passed through the gates, exited and destroyed the city
Venus The goddess of love
Veritas The goddess of truth
Vesta The goddess of the hearth and home
Vulcan The god of fire; blacksmith of the gods
Zeus The Greek equivalent of Jupiter
Glossary of Latin
and Important Terms and Places
Aedes Vestae The sacred building that housed the sacred flame; that is, the Temple of Vesta
aeterna flamma The “eternal flame” of Vesta
atrium The central open hall or court of a Roman home, around which were arranged on all sides the house’s various rooms
Attat! Latin expression of surprise, fear, etc.
augur Priest who i
nterprets the will of the gods via the flight of birds
ave A word of greeting or farewell. When addressing more than one person the form avete was used.
Black Stone The Black Stone, or Lapis Niger in Latin, was a mysterious and revered stone block in the Roman Forum, a monument thought to date back to the earliest period of Roman history.
Bona Dea The “Good Goddess,” whose rites were overseen by the Vestal Virgins
Campus Martius The Field of Mars
Campus Sceleratus The “Evil Field,” where Vestals were buried alive
Capillata tree An ancient tree so-named because Vestals would hang their cut hair from it—capillata means “hairy, or having long hair” in Latin
captio The “seizure” ceremony, where a girl is taken as a Vestal
Caput Mundi “Capital of the world,” meaning Rome
Carcer The notorious structure where prisoners were incarcerated
catamite A pubescent or adolescent boy kept by a man for sexual purposes
causarius A soldier discharged after being wounded in battle
chaste tree A small tree native to the Mediterranean that was considered sacred to the virginal goddess Vesta. Its fruit has long been believed to quell sexual desire.
Circus Maximus A large stadium in Rome that was used for chariot races, public games, mock battles, and gladiatorial combat
Curia The Senate house of Rome, located in the Roman Forum
divi filius Son of the Divine Julius Caesar (i.e. Octavian)
Divus Julius The Divine Julius Caesar
Domina The deferential name a slave would use with his or her female owner
Domine The deferential name a slave would use with his or her male owner
domus A Roman home
dormouse A special type of mouse eaten as a delicacy
Elysian Fields The afterlife: a beautiful space, for the good
Equus October The “October Horse” was an annual sacrifice to Mars on the ides of October
fatale monstrum A “deadly monster”
favissa Underground temple depositories where sacred items no longer in use were placed. The favissa of the Temple of Vesta was where ashes from the sacred fire were stored.
fibula A brooch or pin used to fasten clothing or a cloak: on Vestals, it secured the suffibulum
Flamen Dialis The high priest of Jupiter
Flamen Martialis The high priest of Mars
Fordicidia An annual fertility festival held in mid-April
forum a public square or commercial marketplace that often included important judicial, political, historical and/or religious structures
Forum Boarium Rome’s cattle and animal forum near the Tiber River
Forum of Julius Caesar A forum built by Julius Caesar near the Forum Romanum; also known as Caesar’s Forum
Forum Romanum The Roman Forum was a rectangular forum in the heart of Rome which contained many official and religious buildings, as well as monuments
Futuo! Literally, “I fuck”; used here as a vulgar expression
gladius A type of short sword; the primary sword of Roman foot soldiers
Gratias vobis ago, divine Jane, divina Vesta. A thank-you to the gods Janus and Vesta, this phrase was used at the end of a ritual or ceremony
haruspex [ pl. haruspices] A person who reads the entrails of sacrificed animals
ides The middle of the month, which was considered to be the fifteenth day for “full” months and the thirteenth day for the shorter, or “hollow,” ones
ignis inexstinctus The “inextinguishable fire” of Vesta
imperator The title given to a citizen, such as a magistrate or general, who held imperium (great governmental or military authority); later, this term became nearly synonymous with emperor
impluvium A shallow sunken pool in the atrium of a Roman house, where rainwater collected
incestum The legal charge against a Vestal who was suspected of having broken her vow of chastity
infula The ceremonial woolen headband worn by Vestals
Insanos deos! “Insane gods!”—an exclamation of dismay, disbelief, or bewilderment
insula [ pl. insulae] A Roman apartment block
Ista quidem vis est! “Why, this is violence!”—the phrase Julius Caesar is said to have cried out when he was attacked and assassinated.
Iuppiter Jupiter, Father Jove, or Sky Father
jure divino An expression meaning “by divine law”
kalends The first day of the month
Lacus Curtius A deep and mysterious pit, chasm, or pool in the Roman Forum
lanista The manager, trainer, or owner of a gladiator or gladiatorial school
lararium A household shrine to the gods and ancestors
lectica A covered or enclosed couch-like mode of transport used by the upper classes and carried on the shoulders of slaves
lecticarius [ pl. lecticarii] A man, typically a slave, who helped carry a lectica; a litter-bearer
Liberalia The annual celebration of Liber, god of wine, fertility, and freedom
lictor An officer who accompanied magistrates or important officials
litter A lectica; also used for a horse-drawn carriage that transported important people
Lupercalia An annual fertility festival honoring Lupa, the she-wolf that suckled Romulus and Remus
lustratio [ pl. lustrationes] A ceremonial purification
lyre A stringed musical instrument not unlike a harp
Mala Fortuna! An exclamation meaning “Evil Fortuna!” or “Bad luck!”
manumission Release from slavery; the termination of a slave’s servitude, at which point a slave becomes a freedman or freedwoman
Mare Nostrum The Roman name for the Mediterranean Sea
Mea dea! An exclamation meaning “My goddess!”
Mehercule! An exclamation meaning “By Hercules!”
mola salsa A ritual salted-flour mixture prepared by Vestals
palla A woman’s shawl that was worn when out of the house and which could be pulled over her head
patera A shallow bowl that held libations
patria potestas The legal power that a man held over his household, including his wife and children
Pax Deorum The peaceful accord between humanity and the gods, which was ensured only by proper religious observance
penus The hidden innermost chamber in the Temple of Vesta, where sacred objects and important items were kept
Pontifex Maximus The chief priest of Rome
quaestio A secular tribunal
quaestor A public official; a position that could lead to a political career
Regia The building that served as the office of the Pontifex Maximus and which had been the home of the early kings
retiarius A type of gladiator that fought with a net and trident
Rex Sacrorum A high-ranking priest
Rostra A large, decorated speaker’s platform in the Roman Forum
rudis A wooden sword given to a gladiator upon manumission
salve A word of greeting; when addressing more than one person, the form salvete was used.
scutum A type of Roman shield
secutor A type of gladiator that carried a shield and a short sword or dagger and was trained to fight a retiarius
seni crines A braided hairstyle worn by brides and Vestal Virgins
simpulum A long-handled ladle-like vessel that held libations
spina A low barrier wall that ran down the center of a circus. The Circus Maximus had a decorated spina with conical posts at each end, around which the horses and chariots turned
SPQR An initialism of the phrase Senatus Populusque Romanus—“the Senate and People of Rome”
stola A type of dress worn by married Roman women
and Vestals
stultus A fool
suffibulum A short ceremonial veil worn by Vestal Virgins
tablinum The office of a Roman house, where business might be conducted
Tabularium A public office building in the Roman Forum
Tarpeian Rock A tall cliff overlooking the Forum that was used as an execution site: criminals were thrown from it
Tiberinalia The annual festival honoring Father Tiber, the god of the Tiber River
toga The traditional garment of adult male Roman citizens. The color of the toga’s stripe or border denoted a man’s status; for example, a reddish-purple stripe was reserved for high-status men, while a toga of solid purple could be worn only by the emperor. A dark-colored toga was worn for funerals and during periods of mourning.
toga virilis The common white or off-white woolen toga of adult male citizens
triclinium The dining room of a Roman house, furnished with couches for reclining on while eating and socializing
tunica A garment worn alone or under a toga or stola
Veneralia An annual religious festival to celebrate Venus
Vesta Aeterna “Eternal Vesta”
Vesta Felix Vesta, who brings good luck or fortune
Vesta Mater “Mother Vesta”
Vesta, permitte hanc actionem. An appeal meaning “Vesta, permit this action.”
Vesta te purificat. “Vesta purifies you.”
Vestalia An annual religious festival to celebrate Vesta
Vestalis Maxima The head, or high priestess, of the Vestal order
Vestam laudo. “I praise Vesta.”
Virgo Vestalis A Vestal Virgin; one of six temple priestesses tasked with keeping the sacred flame of the goddess Vesta burning
vittae A type of ribbon or band worn in the hair; on Vestals, loops hung down over the shoulders
viva flamma The “living flame” of Vesta
Ancient Roman coin showing Vesta with sacrificial implements at sacred hearth.
Ancient Roman men’s seal ring, with an image of Vesta (as worn by Quintus).
The Vestal Tuccia Carrying the Sieve by Hector Leroux.
Ancient Roman coin showing the Temple of Vesta and a voting urn. The AC stands for absolve / condemn—this depicts a case where a Vestal Virgin was accused of incestum and a vote was taken to determine her innocence or guilt.