Spartacus: Rebellion (61 page)
Sulla Felix, Lucius Cornelius (
c.
138–78
BC
): one of the most famous Roman generals and statesmen who ever lived. He was a ruthless man who made himself dictator, caused civil wars and ultimately helped to weaken the Republic, yet he also strengthened the position of the Senate, and retired from public life rather than remain in power.
tablinum
: the office or reception area beyond the
atrium
in a Roman house. The
tablinum
usually opened on to an enclosed colonnaded garden.
tesserarius
: one of the junior officers in a century, whose duties included commanding the guard. The name originates from the
tessera
tablet on which was written the password for the day.
Teutones: a Germanic tribe who in the second century
BC
migrated with the Cimbri to southern Gaul, where they encountered the Romans. In 102
BC
, they suffered the same fate as the Cimbri.
Thrace: an area in the ancient world spanning parts of Bulgaria, Romania, northern Greece and south-western Turkey. It was inhabited by more than forty warlike tribes.
Thurii: modern-day Sibari.
tribune: a senior staff officer within a legion; also one of ten political positions in Rome, where they served as ‘tribunes of the people’, defending the rights of the plebeians.
triplex acies
: the standard deployment of a legion for battle. Three lines were formed some distance apart, with four cohorts in the front line and three in the middle and rear lines.
trireme: the classic Roman warship, which was powered by a single sail and three banks of oars. Each oar was rowed by one man, who was freeborn, not a slave. Exceptionally manoeuvrable, and capable of up to eight knots under sail or for short bursts when rowed, the trireme also had a bronze ram at the prow. Triremes had very large crews in proportion to their size. This limited their range, so they were mainly used as troop transports and to protect coastlines.
triumph: the procession to the temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill of a Roman general who had won a large-scale military victory.
Venus: the Roman goddess of motherhood and domesticity.
Vestal Virgins: the only female priesthood in Rome, who served Vesta, the goddess of the hearth. During their thirty years of service, they had to remain chaste. Their main ceremonial duties were the preparation of the grain mixed with salt used during public sacrifices, and the tending of the goddess’s sacred flame.
Via Aemilia: a road in northern Italy that ran from Ariminum to Placentia, and then on to other towns.
Via Annia: a road in northern Italy; also an extension of the Via Appia, which ran from Capua to Rhegium.
Via Appia: the main road from Rome to Brundisium in the far south of Italy.
Via Labicana: a road leading south-east from Rome to Labici.
Vinalia Rustica: a Roman wine festival held on 19 August.
virtus
: a much-respected Roman virtue, associated with courage, honour and manliness.
Vulcan (or Vulcanus): a Roman god of destructive fire, who was often worshipped to prevent – fire!
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