Classical Literacy Level I

Part II

omniscient:all-knowing

Palatine Hill:One of the Seven Hills of Rome. Original inhabitant hill,

whereas the Capitoline held the citadels and religious buildings. The place where Rome's richest people lived.

Pan:God of fields and woods and shepherds and

flocks

patrician:of the hereditary aristocracy or ruling class of ancient Rome or

medieval Europe, a member of the noble families who controlled all power in the early years of the Roman Republic

pax vobiscum:peace be with you (a common farewell)

per annum:by the year; annually

per capita:per head or unit of population

per diem:By the day; a daily allowance for expenses.

Ph.D./Philosophiae Doctor:

Doctor of Philosophy, the advanced degree in the liberal arts or sciences.

persona non grata:a person who for some reason is not

wanted or welcome

Plebeian:of the common people of ancient Rome

polytheism:the belief in many gods

pontifex maximus:Title meaning "high priest" of the Roman

religion that was taken by Emperor Augustus.

Priam:The last king of Troy, father of Paris and

Hector

pro tempore:for the time being, temporarily

puerile:childish; immature (from the Latin word

puer, meaning boy)

Punic Wars:A series of three wars between Rome and Carthage (264-

146 B.C.); resulted in the destruction of Carthage and Rome's dominance over the western Mediterranean.

rara avis:a rare bird, an extraordinary person or

thing

rostra:the speaker's platform in the forum from which

orators such as Cicero delivered speeches

Saturnalia:an ancient Roman festival held in honor of the god Saturn from

December 17 through December 23, filled with revelry, drunkenness, gambling, and continual partying; the Roman

precursor to Christmas

satyr:a creature that is half-man, half beast, with

the horns and legs of a goat

sedentary:characterized by or calling for continued sitting;

remaining in one place; from the Latin word sedere, meaning "to sit"

sic semper tyrannis:Latin phrase meaning "Thus always to

tyrants" (motto of Virginia)

sic transit gloria mundi:

Latin phrase meaning "Thus passes the glory of the world;" it has been interpreted to mean

"worldly things are fleeting"

Sicily:the Mediterranean's largest island, colonized from the eighth

century BC by Greeks and Carthaginians who frequently warred with each other or the island's native people, near the country of

Italy

sine qua non:Latin phrase referring to something essential, an indespensable action

Sisyphus:a king in ancient Greece who offended the gods (in particular,

Zeus) and whose punishment was to roll a huge boulder to the top of a steep hill; each time the boulder neared the top it rolled

back down and he was forced to start again

Sparta:A Greek city-state that focused on military, used slaves for agriculture, and discouraged the arts

SPQR:stands for "Senatus Populusque Romanus" and translates as "the

Senate and the Roman People;" the symbol is still found today on light posts, mailboxes, street signs, and other municipal

fixtures in modern-day Rome.

status quo:the existing state of affairs

sub rosa:"under the rose;" this phrase is used in

English to refer to secrecy or confidentiality

tribune:ancient Roman officials elected by the

plebeians to protect their rights

verbatim:in precisely the same words used by a

writer or speaker, "word for word"

via:Latin word for road, used in English to

mean "by the way of"

vice versa:with the order reversed