L for Lexicon
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A for Achilles
Large vessel with a round belly and two handles. It was used for storing and transporting wine, oil, and water. It is one of the most common vase shapes; decorated pieces were often used at symposia.
One of the greatest heroes in Greek mythology, son of the goddess Thetis and mortal Peleus. He is a protagonist of the Trojan War; his unquenchable rage forms the focus of Homer’s epic, → the Iliad.
British Museum, London
C for centaur
Half-horse, half-human creatures living and hunting in forests and rocky areas. They were believed to be wild and insober, but Chiron – the namesake of our club – was considered a wise and friendly educator.
The highest official in the Roman Republic. There were two consuls in office at the same time, and they were elected for a year. They controlled the state when there was peace, and they were the commanders of the army at times of war. From the reign of Julius Caesar and → Augustus, the title became nominal, and consuls had no real power.
D for Dionysus
One of the most important Greek sanctuaries and oracles erected in honour of the god Apollo. Every four years, Delphi hosted a festival of several days, where representatives of the city-states competed in music and sports.
E for Etruscans
Ancient people living in central Italy. From the 8th century BC onwards, the Etruscans established prosperous and wealthy cities, most importantly Vulci, Caere and → Tarquinia. Etruscan territories stretched from what is now Bologna to the area of Naples. They had lively commercial and cultural contacts with the Phoenicians and the Greeks – a significant portion of Greek painted vases were found in Etruria.
From the 4th century BC onwards, Rome began to occupy the cities of Etruria one by one. In a few centuries, the Etruscans assimilated into the peoples of the Roman Empire. Their Latin name (Tusci) is preserved in the name Tuscany, while the memory of their Greek name (Tyrrhenoi) is retained in the name of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
F for forum
Central area of a city, one of the main venues of public life in Roman culture. It functioned both as a market and as a place for assemblies that defined the community’s life. Some cities had more than one forums. Its Greek equivalent was the agora.
G for Gorgon
Scary-looking, dangerous creatures who were believed to turn whoever looked at them to stone. They usually appeared as women with snakes in their hair, a menacing grin, tongue sticking out, and sharp fangs. Gorgon-heads were thought to have apotropaic power and often decorated buildings and objects.
H for Herodotus
Hadrian was the ruler of the Roman Empire from 117 to 138 AD. His predecessor, Emperor Trajan, chose him as his successor because of his aptitude. His reign was considered the heyday of the empire. Before becoming emperor, he was an army general and held important public offices.
The first Greek historian, who lived around 485–424 BC. His work Historiai recounts the story of the Graeco-Persian wars. The Latin word historia (history) comes from the title of this book.
I for Iliad
A Greek epic (long poem in hexameter) that tradition considers to be the work of a poet named Homer. It tells about the decisive phase of the ten-year Trojan War, focusing on the rage of → Achilles, the greatest Greek warrior, and its consequences.
K for krater
Large, wide-mouthed vessel with two handles, which served for mixing wine and water. The Greeks usually drank their wine diluted with water.
L for legion
The legion was the chief military unit of the Roman army. Usually, there were 25–30 legions in the imperial army, each composed of 5 to 6,000 soldiers. Each unit carried its silver symbol on a standard. This was called an eagle (aquila) – even if it showed a bull, a goat, or a lion!
M for maenad
Female followers of → Dionysus. Their name refers to their “manic” behaviour and is related to the Greek verb “to rave like a maniac”. They usually appeared wearing animal skins and ivy wreaths, often in the company of satyrs, honouring Dionysus with crying and dancing in ecstasy.
O for Ostia
Rome’s most important maritime commercial and military port at the mouth of the Tiber River.
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