Term
| Actium- September 2, 31 BC |
|
Definition
| It was the place of the naval battle between Octavian (Augustus) and the combined forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. It was fought on September 2, 31 BC, on the Ionian Sea near the Roman colony of Actium in Greece. Octavian's fleet was commanded by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. The victory of Octavian's fleet enabled him to consolidate his power over Rome and its domains, leading to his adoption of the title of Princeps ("first citizen") and his accepting the title of Augustus and emperor from the Senate. Aftermath includes Mark Antony and Cleopatra committing suicide. Battle caused by the breakup of the second triumvirate due to exisitence of Ceasorion (Ceasers natural son). |
|
|
Term
| Josephus- (37ca, 100c.e.) |
|
Definition
| Jewish aristocrat was commander of rebel army in Galilee during the Great Revolt. Once he was captured he joined the retinue of Roman general Vespasian and after the fall of the Temple in 70 ce he went to Rome. He remained a defender of the Jewish culture and tradition. His works include an eyewitness account of Great Revolt and The Jewish War. His antiquities include a history of the jewish people from creation to the revolt. He also wrote an autobiography to defend himself against critics. Moreover, he is one of the sources for early Roman history. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| We often see the abbreviation T POT or TRIB POT in Roman Imperial coin legends. It stands for Tribunicia Potestas which means Tribunician Power. This was a title or office invented by Augustus because it was legally impossible for a patrician to be a tribune of the plebeians, the first Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus, was offered instead all of the powers of the tribunate without actually holding the office. This formed one of the two main constitutional bases of Augustus' authority; it gave him the authority to convene the Senate. Also, he was sacrosanct, who had the authority to veto. Tribunes had the power to convene the Plebeian Council and to act as its president, which also gave them the exclusive right to propose legislation before it. Also, the tribune could summon the Senate and lay proposals before it only within Rome. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| According to Suetonius, when the foundations for the villa of Augustus were being excavated, giant bones and 'weapons of stone' were discovered. The emperor ordered these to be displayed in the garden of his main residence, the Sea Palace. Tiberius built a series of villas at Capri, the most famous of which is the Villa Jovis, one of the best preserved Roman villas in Italy. In 27 CE, Tiberius permanently moved to Capri, running the Empire from there until his death in 37 CE. According to Suetonius, while staying on the island, Tiberius (accompanied by his grand-nephew and heir, Caligula) enjoyed imposing numerous cruelties and sexual perversions upon his slaves. |
|
|
Term
| Seneca- (c. 4 BC – AD 65)- |
|
Definition
| as a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and in one work humorist, of the Silver Age of Latin literature. From 54 to 62, Seneca acted as Nero's advisor, together with the praetorian prefect Burrus. In 65, Seneca was caught up in the aftermath of the Piso conspiracy, a plot to kill Nero. Although it is unlikely that he conspired, he was ordered by Nero to kill himself. He immersed himself in a steam bath to commit suicide after a few failed attempts. First attempt was to slit his wrist, which failed. Then he tried to taking poison and vomited it. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| was a prefect of the Roman imperial bodyguard, known as the Praetorian Guard, from 31 until his death in 38. Macro succeeded to the office upon the arrest and execution of his predecessor Lucius Aelius Sejanus, by appointment of emperor Tiberius. He was active in discrediting Sejanus and directed the subsequent purge against his family and followers. During the later years of Tiberius's reign Macro appears to have wielded considerable influence in his household, and thought to further his ambitions by befriending the young prince Gaius Caligula. Suetonius states that he gained further favor by turning a blind eye to his wife Eunia's affair with Caligula around 34. He later committed suicide after Caligula became fearful of his position. |
|
|
Term
| Elder Agrippina- 14 BC – 18 October 33 |
|
Definition
| was a distinguished and prominent Roman Princess that lived between the 1st century BC and 1st century. Agrippina was the wife of the general, politician Germanicus (Nero-whom was her cousin) and a relative to the first Roman Emperors. She was a highly unconventional wife as she assited Germanicus on his campaigns. She was also grandmother of Nero. She paved the way for women to wield influence and power in Roman politics, particularly in the Imperial Court, Senate and Army. She had 9 children, 3 which died early. In 29, Agrippina with her sons Nero and Drusus, were arrested on the orders of Tiberius. Tiberius falsely accused Agrippina in planning to take sanctuary besides the image of Augustus or with the Roman Army abroad. Agrippina and her sons were tried by the Roman Senate. She was banished on Tiberius’ orders to the island of Pandataria. She later starved herself to death at Pandataria. |
|
|
Term
| Agrippa- Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa (c. 63 BC–12 BC) |
|
Definition
| was a Roman statesman and general. He was a close friend, son-in-law, lieutenant and minister to Octavian. He was responsible for most of Octavian’s military triumphs, most notably winning the naval Battle of Actium. He was a writer and good in geography, whom under Julius ceaser made a survery of the republic. Augustus had Agrippa's remains placed in Augustus' own mausoleum. Through his actions after being elected in 33 BC as one of the aediles (officials responsible for Rome's buildings and festivals), the streets were repaired and the sewers were cleaned out. He was highly respected by Augustus and he died in a campaign. |
|
|
Term
| Vergil-(October 15, 70 BCE – September 21, 19 BCE) |
|
Definition
| was a classical Roman poet, best known for three major works—the Bucolics (or Eclogues which was Virgil a Roman version partly by offering a dramatic and mythic interpretation of revolutionary change at Rome in the turbulent period between roughly 44 and 38 BC). The Georgics which were verses divided into four books. Books One and Two deal with agriculture. Book Three is concerned with the rearing of cattle and other livestock and Book Four largely focuses upon beekeeping. The Aeneid which tells the legendary story of Aeneas, a Trojan who traveled to Italy, where he became the ancestor of the Romans —although several minor poems are also attributed to him. He also had works dedicated to Augustus. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Was a goddess in Ancient Egyptian religious beliefs, whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. She was worshipped as the ideal mother and wife, patron of nature and magic; friend of slaves, sinners, artisans, the downtrodden, as well as listening to the prayers of the wealthy, maidens, aristocrats and rulers. She is often depicted with a child or other wife/mother attributes. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| was a Roman Empress and second wife of the Roman Emperor Nero. According to Tacitus, Poppaea was ambitious, ruthless, and a bisexual. She is said to hold many orgies. Nero kills her by accidently killing her by kicking her in the belly while she was pregnant with their second child. According to Suetonius, while she was awaiting the birth of her second child in the summer of 65, she quarreled fiercely with Nero over him spending too much time at the races. Nero is said to have really loved her and went into deep mourning after her death. |
|
|
Term
| Pallas- Marcus Antonius Pallas (c. 1–63) |
|
Definition
| was a prominent trusted Greek freedman of Claudius and secretary during the reigns of the Roman Emperors Claudius and Nero. Pallas was made secretary of the treasury during the reign of Claudius. He was said to have done an excellent job. He is said to have allied with Agrippina the younger and was dismissed of service by Nero. He was also put under trial for treason against Nero but later acquitted. He was later killed on orders of Nero. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| He was a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher. Philo's is selected by the Alexandrian Jewish community as their principal representative before the Roman emperor Gaius Caligula. He says that Philo agreed to represent the Alexandrian Jews in regard to civil disorder that had developed between the Jews and the Greeks in Alexandria (in Egypt). Josephus also tells us that Philo was skilled in philosophy, and that he was brother to an official called Alexander the alabarch. According to Josephus, Philo and the larger Jewish community refused to treat the emperor as a god, to erect statues in honor of the emperor, and to build altars and temples to the emperor. Josephus says Philo believed that God actively supported this refusal. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Apotheosis in ancient Rome was a process whereby a deceased ruler was recognized to be divine by his successor, usually also by a decree of the Senate and popular consent. In addition to showing respect, often the successor deified his popular predecessor to legitimize himself. Temples and columns were made to provide a space for worship. |
|
|
Term
| Sejanus- Lucius Aelius Seianus (20 BC – October 18, 31 AD) |
|
Definition
| was an ambitious soldier, friend and confidant of the Tiberius. An equestrian by birth, Sejanus rose to power as prefect of the Roman Praetorian Guard, of which he was commander from 14 AD until his death in 31. Sejanus introduced a number of reforms which saw the unit evolve beyond a mere bodyguard into a powerful and influential branch of the government involved in public security, civil administration, and ultimately political intercession; changes which would have a lasting impact on the course of the Principate. When Tiberius was in Capri he was de facto ruler of the empire. People loved him as emperor and he was later arrested under Piso conspiracy charges and executed by Tiberius. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Persian god who became more popular than Isis and was the God of light and truth who fought evil powers. Mithras accomplishments include capturing and slaying of a sacred bull, from whose body sprang other useful forms of life. This worship was popular for the Flavians, especially the military. The cult was restricted to men only and had commonality with Christianity. Statues are often depicted with fighting or in a battle with the roman or with a bull. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A special force of guards used by Roman Emperors. Before being appropriated for the use of the Emperors' personal guards, the title was used for the guards of Roman generals. Augustus established the title of praetorian guards. Following the death of Sejanus, who was sacrificed for the Donativum (imperial gift) promised by Tiberius, the Guards began to play an increasingly ambitious and bloody game in the Empire. With the right amount of money, or at will, they assassinated emperors, bullied their own prefects, or turned on the people of Rome. In 41 Caligula was killed by conspirators from the senatorial class and from the Guard. The Praetorians placed Claudius on the throne, daring the Senate to oppose their decision. In 69 after the emperor Galba failed to provide a donative for the Praetorians, they transferred their allegiance to Otho and assassinated the emperor. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| This is part of Roman law. A man with imperium had in principle absolute authority to apply the law within the scope of his magistracy or promagistracy, but could be vetoed or overruled by a magistrate or promagistrate having imperium maius (a higher degree of imperium) or, as most republican magistratures were multiple (though not quite collegial since each could act on his own), by the equal power of his colleague |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The Second Triumvirate is the name historians give to the official political alliance of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (later known as Augustus), Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, and Mark Antony, formed on 26 November 43 BC with the enactment of the Lex Titia, the adoption of which marked the end of the Roman Republic. The Triumvirate existed for two five-year terms, covering the period 43 BC – 33 BC. This union was officially and legally established union. When the Triumvirate's second term expired in 33 BC, Antony continued to use the title Triumvir; Octavian, opting to distance himself from Antony, refrained from using it. Octavian illegally obtained Antony's will in July 32 BC, and exposed it to the Roman public: it promised substantial legacies to Antony's children by Cleopatra, and instructed that his body should be shipped to Alexandria for burial. Rome was outraged, and the Senate declared war. |
|
|
Term
| Germanicus- 24 May 16 BC–October 10, 19 |
|
Definition
| He was born in Gaul and married to Agrippina the Elder. After the death of Augustus in 14, the Senate appointed Germanicus commander of the forces in Germania. He was successful in defeating the germans. The following year he found that the governor of Syria, Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, had cancelled the provincial arrangements that he had made. Germanicus in turn ordered Piso's recall to Rome, although this action was probably beyond his authority. In the midst of this feud Germanicus died suddenly in Antioch. His death aroused much speculation, with several sources blaming Piso under orders of Tiberius. This was never proven, and Piso later committed suicide while facing trial, because he feared the people of Rome knew of the conspiracy against Germanicus, but Tiberius' jealousy and fear of his cousin's popularity and increasing power was the true motive. |
|
|
Term
| Varus- Publius Quinctilius Varus (46 BC–AD 9) |
|
Definition
| was a Roman politician and general under emperor Augustus, mainly remembered for having lost three Roman legions and his own life when attacked by Germanic leader Arminius in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. He lost with three legions (17, 18, 19th) was a very embarrassing defeat in the forest. Describe some forest attributes that aided in the defeat of varus. Augustus was extremely dissatisfied. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Roman Stoics focused on promoting a life in harmony within the universe, over which one has no direct control. Doctrines consist of divinely created world of brotherhood and hierarchical order and their stress upon duty, the upholding of established authority, and the natural rule of the wise. It was very popular in the Roman empire. |
|
|
