Quintus Claudius, Volume 1

192

Followed by his clients and slaves. Aristocratic people rarely appeared in public without a train of followers.

193

“Getting up early is my greatest torment.” See Martial, Ep. X 74, where the poet, as the sole reward for his verses, begs to be permitted to sleep as long as he likes in the morning.

194

“Well said!” cried the poet. Martial often flattered his superiors, even to servility. See Mart. Ep. XII, 11, where he praises the poetic gifts of Parthenius.

195

Subura. A densely-populated district between the Forum Romanum and the Vicus Patricius, occupied by the poorer classes.

196

Houses. For the height of the houses in ancient Rome see Friedlander I, 5 etc.

197

Taverns. All sorts of booths, stands, work-shops, taverns and barbers’ shops stood in front of the houses in the smaller streets, greatly impeding the passers-by. The confusion at last increased to such an extent, that Domitian found himself compelled to have the most obtrusive structures removed in certain quarters of the city. One of Martial’s epigrams (VII, 61) is founded on this incident.

198

Itinerant bakers. Mart. XIV, 223:

“Arise; the baker is selling the boys their breakfast.”

The breakfast probably consisted of adipata, i. e. pastry or cakes made with fat. Bread was baked at home till the last years of the Republic; afterwards there were public bakehouses for the poorer classes.

199

The pedagogue was a slave, whose duty it was to take children to school.

200

The babble of spelling children. The Romans attached great importance to a distinct and accurate pronunciation; reading was taught twice a day, and children began to learn before the age of seven.

201

The cyprius street (vious Cyprius) led from the Subura to the Flavian amphitheatre.

202

A procession of priests. Solemn processions of priests through the city formed one of the principal features in the worship of Isis.

203

You leeches are always right. Blepyrus, as his master’s constant companion, would watch over his health, if not as a qualified physician, at any rate, as an empirical adviser. The household leech in noble families was almost always a slave or freedman, and those who practised independently were often in the same position.

204

Ostiarius. The porter, who sat in a niche of the entrance-corridor (ostium).

205

Hyrcanian mountains. Hyrcania was the name of a rough mountainous region near the Caspian Sea.

206

The second vigil. The Romans divided the time from sunrise to sunset into four vigils (night-watches) of three hours each.

207

Cubiculum. Sleeping-room.

208

Orbilius. The well-known schoolmaster, nicknamed by his pupils plagosus, (delighting in blows) to whom Horace went. (Suet. Gramm. 9.)

209

I suppose you would like to stick a pin into me. Roman ladies often avenged mistakes committed by their slaves, during the process of making their toilettes, by such abuse. Nay, it sometimes happened that a slave thus stabbed was killed. See Mart. Ep. II, 66, where Lalage knocks down the female slave Plecusa on account of a single curl escaping from her hair.

210

Ah! you naughty girl. With the sovereign contempt with which so many Romans treated their slaves, this tone, addressed to the daughter of the house, might seem strange, but even under the emperors the relation between masters and slaves was in many respects a patriarchial one. The older slaves, especially, were permitted many familiarities in their intercourse with the children of the family, who often called them “little father,” "little mother," allowed them to reprove them, and according to their personality, frequently permitted them to exercise no little authority. A beautiful example of cordial relations existing between the master, and his slaves and freedmen, is shown us in a letter from the younger Pliny to Paullinus (Ep. V. 19) where he says: "I see how mildly you treat your people, and therefore acknowledge the more frankly how indulgent I am to mine; I always remember the words of Homer:

“‘And was kind as a father…’

and our own ‘father of a family’ (pater familias). But even were I harsher and sterner by nature, I should be moved by the illness of my freedman Zosimus, to whom I must show the greater kindness, now that he needs it more… My long-standing affection for him, which is only increased by anxiety, affords a guarantee for that. Surely it is natural, that nothing so fans and increases love as the fear of loss, which I have already endured more than once on his account. Some years ago, after reciting a long time with much effort, he raised blood; so I sent him to Egypt, from whence he returned a short time since greatly strengthened by the long journey. But on straining his voice too much for several days, a slight cough served to remind us of the old difficulty, and he again raised blood. Therefore I intend to send him to your estate at Forojulium, having often heard you say that the air there was healthful, and the milk very beneficial in such diseases.“

211

Wedding with offering of corn. The oldest form of the marriage ceremony was the Confarreatio, so-called from the offerings of grain (far). By this form the wife entirely lost her independence. Her property passed into her husband’s possession, and she could neither acquire anything for herself, nor transact any legal business. The desire for emancipation, here jestingly uttered by Lucilia, was in reality very widely diffused throughout Rome at the time of our story, and the form of the Confarreatio was therefore constantly becoming rarer.

212

Citrus-wood. The citrus (tuja cupressoides) a beautiful tree growing on the sides of the Atlas, furnished costly tops for tables, for which the most extravagant prices were paid, as the trunks rarely attained the requisite degree of thickness. Pliny (Hist. Nat. XIII, 15) mentions slabs almost four feet in diameter, and six inches thick. Cicero gave a million sesterces for a citrus-wood table. Seneca is said to have owned five hundred of them. The slab rested on a single base of skilfully-carved ivory, from which they received the name of monopodia (a single foot).

213

Stola. The over-garment worn by women (stola) was trimmed around the bottom with a border (instita) that often lengthened into a train.

214

Metal mirror. At the time of our story mirrors made of a mixture of gold, silver and copper were preferred.

215

Who hire flatterers to praise them. See Quintillian, XI, 3, 131; Juv. Sat. XIII, 29-31, Plin. Ep. II, 14, 4.

216

The Centumvirate. A body of judges whose function it was to decide in civil cases, more particularly in suits concerning inheritance. The Decemvirate presided over them.

217

Lived on the corn given away by the state. The number of Roman paupers, who lived almost exclusively by this means, far surpassed those who need support in civilized countries at the present time.

218

The arch of Titus. The triumphal arch of Titus, at the southeastern corner of the Forum Romanum, designed for the commemoration of the victory over the Jews, A.D. 81, is still standing at the present day. It bears the inscription: ”Senatus populusque Romanus divo Tito divi Vespasiani filio Vespasiano Augusto." Some of its bas-reliefs are admirably preserved.

219

Meta Sudans. One of the Metae (the obelisks at the upper and lower ends of the circus) resembling a fountain, not far from the Flavian amphitheatre. Part of the sub-structure still remains.

220

The Flavian Amphitheatre, now the Coliseum. This edifice, commenced by the emperor Vespasian at the close of the Jewish war, finished under Titus, and dedicated A.D. 80, contained seats for 87,000 spectators, and room for 20,000 more in the open gallery. Even at the present time, no similar structure in the world has equalled, far less surpassed it in extent and magnificence.

221

Caelimontana Gate.. (Porta Caelimontana) near the Lateran. The street here entered by Claudia and Lucilia still exists; it now bears the name of Via di San Giovanni in Laterano.

222

The birthday (dies natalis, sacra natalicia) was celebrated in ancient times.

223

In the middle stood a hearth. The real hearth, originally in the atrium, had long since vanished from the atria of the wealthy and aristocratic. Here a festal hearth erected for the occasion is meant.

224

Lucretius. Titus Lucretius Carus, who was born in the year 98, and died in 55 B.C., composed a philosophical didactic poem “on the nature of things.” (De Rerum Natura.) The view of the world taken in it is a thoroughly material one. The poet constructs the universe out of an infinite multitude of atoms, which exist singly and imperishably in infinite space.

225

Pliny the elder. Caius Plinius Secundus, called to distinguish him from his nephew, so often quoted here, the elder (major) a warrior, statesman, and famous naturalist, was born at Novum Comum, A.D. 23. He met his death, a victim to his thirst for scientific knowledge, at the great eruption of Vesuvius, A.D. 79. (See the famous description in his nephew’s letter to Tacitus, Plin. Ep. VI, 16.) Of his numerous works, nothing has come down to us except the Historia Naturalis, a vast encyclopedia, the material for which was obtained from more than 2,000 volumes. He was an absolute denier of the gods, nay, of transcendentalism altogether. The opinions attributed to Cinna are in part literally copied from the Historia Naturalis.

226

Antium. The modern Porto d’Anzio, an ancient city south of Rome. Many Roman aristocrats owned country-seats there.

227

Tissues mixed with silk. Fabrics made entirely of silk were rare in Rome.

228

Mentor was a famous sculptor, especially celebrated for his cups and goblets in metal (repoussé). Pliny. Hist. Nat. VII, 38, and XIII, 11, 12, also Martial, Ep. III, 41:

The lizard wrought by Mentor’s hand so rare,

Was fear’d i’ the cup, as though it living were.

Wright.

that is, the silver lizard, wrought on the cup, is so true to life, that people might fear it. See Mart. Ep. IV, 39, IX, 59 (cups that Mentor’s hand ennobled), etc.

229

Niceros. See Mart. Ep. VI, 55 (“because you smelt Niceros’s leaden vials …”) Mart. Ep. X, 38, (“the lamps that exhaled Niceros’s sweet perfumes …”) and Mart. Ep. XII, 65, (“a pound of ointment from Cosmus or Niceros.”)

230

Ribbons and trimmings of amethyst-purple. Garments of amethystine-purple, woollen material (amethystina or vestes amethystinae) were among the most magnificent and costly clothes. See Mart. Ep. I, 97, 7, and Juv. Sat. VII, 136. The color was so-called because it glittered in the amethyst, a violet-blue gem.

231

Exquisite roses. Roses and violets were the favorite flowers of the ancients. The use of these blossoms was enormous. For the rose-culture in Rome, see Varro, R. Rust, I, 16, 3.

232

The steward of the tables. The chief slave in the dining-room, the butler, was called Tricliniarcha. (Petr. XXII, 6, Inscr. Orell. No. 794.)

233

Paestum (Παὶστον) in the most ancient times Posidonia, a city on the western coast of Lucania, south of the mouth of the Silarus, (now Sele) was famous for its magnificent roses.

234

Atellanian buffoon. Atellanae (Atellanae fabulae, ludi Atellani) was the name given to a species of dramatic performance, somewhat coarsely comical in character. The material for these plays was taken from the lives of the humble citizens and country people. The language used was that of every-day life, and they were often written in the Oscan dialect. The name comes from the Campanian city Atella, where this style of play first originated. Certain fundamental characteristics of the Atellanae representations are still visible in Italian popular farces.

235

Phoenix. See Tac. Ann. VI, 28, Plin. Hist. Nat. X. 2, Ov. Met. XV, 392.

236

Like crape from Cos. Corduba, now Cordova, on the Baetis, now the Guadalquivir, was one of the most important commercial cities in Spain, the principal place in Hispania Baetica, the seat of the imperial governor. See Strabo III, 141. Materials woven from Spanish flax (carbasus) were considered specially delicate for clothing.

237

Epic from Epos (ἒπος) – word, speech, tale. Afterwards the Greeks distinguished epic poetry from lyric by the ἒπη.

238

M. Ulpius Trajanus, born September 18th, A.D. 53, at Italica in Spain, obtained the consulship in the year 91.

239

Cupid and Psyche. The story of Cupid and Psyche was the primeval prototype of Cinderella and a thousand other gems of primitive poetry, and was familiar in nurseries of every rank long before Appuleius cast it into shape, availing himself no doubt of several traditional versions. “Once upon a time there were a king and queen, who had three beautiful daughters,” (Erant in quadam civitate rex et regina; hi tres numero filias forma conspicuas habuere,) was no doubt as favorite a legend with the children of that age as with ours.

240

In the forum, that is in the basilica situated in the forum.

241

Basilica, (βασιλική scil. domus or porticus– royal house) a magnificent public building, used for holding courts of law, or transacting commercial business, and thus at the same time a court-house and exchange. Above were seats for the spectators. The basilicas consisted of a central nave and two side ones, divided from the former by columns. After Constantine the Great had transformed numerous basilicas into churches, the name and style of architecture became associated with the latter.

242

Theognis. An elegiac poet from Attic Megara, who lived B.C. 520. The lines here quoted by Lucilia may be found Eleg. 1323, and in the original text run:

Κυπρογένη, παῦσόν με πόνων, σκέδασον δὲ μερίμνας

Θυμοβόρους, στρέφου δ’ἁυθις ἐς εὐφροσύνας.

243

Old sinner! Lucilia here speaks in the tone of the old Latin comedies (Plautus, Terence).

244

Mathematician. The usual name of the (principally Chaldean) astrologers.

245

All things flow away! (πάντα ῥεῖ) asserted the philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus, (460 B.C.) called on account of his obscurity, "the dark.”

246

Lyaeus (Λυαῖος), the deliverer, the care-dispeller, a name given Bacchus.

247

Barbillus. An astrologer of this name is mentioned. Dio Cass, LXVI, 9.

248

Last night i had a dream. Faith in the prophetic character of dreams was universal in Rome; their interpretation was a regular profession. A surprising example of the seriousness with which the representatives of this “profession” regarded their calling, is furnished in the dream-book of the (undoubtedly sincere) Artemidorus, (Daldianus.) If Lucilia laughs at Cornelia’s fears, it is a piece of free-thinking which did not often happen, and springs rather from a merry, saucy mood, than the deeper source of a philosophical conviction.

249

Our god and master Domitian. The emperor Domitian ordered himself to be called, “God and Master.” Suet, Dom. 13.

250

Funeral banquet. The story of the nocturnal summons to the senators and knights is related by Dio Cassius (LXVII, 9.)

251

The meanest suburb. Butuntum, a little city in Apulia, now Bitonto, is used by Martial (Ep. II, 48 and IV, 55) as a synonym for “quiet provincial town,” as the inhabitants of Berlin say: “Treuenbrietzen” or "Perleberg.”

252

Utter contempt. One of the principal amusements of gay young men was to play pranks in the streets at night, usually on the proletarii. A special favorite was the Sagatio, which consisted in putting some unfortunate wight in a cloak, and tossing him up and down like Sancho Panza.

253

The back door. (Posticum) was the name given to the little door, leading from the back of the cavaedium or peristyle to the street.

254

Perfume of incense. Incense (thus) was generally used not only in the temple of Isis, but at the ceremonies attending the offering of sacrifices in the Roman national worship. It was the resin from an Arabian tree, and the so-called liquid incense was considered the best.

255

First-born of the ages. The invocation to the goddess Isis is partly borrowed from the metamorphoses of Appuleius (XI, 5) where the goddess calls herself: “first-born of all the centuries, highest of the gods, queen of the Manes, princess of the heavenly powers,” etc., repeating the names under which she is revered throughout the world.

256

White Robe. The priests of Isis wore light robes, usually of linen (linum) from which the goddess is called in Ovid: “Isis in linen garments,” (Isis linigera). Byssus is a kind of cotton.

257

Small tonsure. The ancient Oriental custom of shaving the crown of the head was enjoined upon the priests of Isis. Herodotus, II, 37.

258

Rubies, emeralds and chrysolites. In ancient times the chrysolite ranked next to the diamond among precious stones. The finest came from Scythia. Next to the emerald, the beryl and opal were highly esteemed. (Plin. Hist. Nat. XXXVII, 85.)

259

All three were wrapped in thick cloaks. The lacerna, the outer garment worn over the toga, not infrequently had a hood (cucullus).

260

We must find an adventure yet, Parthenius. Such nocturnal rambles incognito were not at all unusual among aristocratic gentlemen. The incident is not expressly related of Domitian, but is told of Nero, Suet. Ner. 26, where the author says: “As soon as night came, he put on a hat or cap, went to the taverns and roamed about the streets, only in jest, it is true, but not without working mischief.” Domitian’s encounter with the slave Parmenio has its counterpart in an adventure of Nero, who once, assailing a noble lady, was almost beaten to death by her husband. (Suet.)

261

Swarthy negress. See Suet. Dom. 22, where it is stated that the emperor now and then associated with the lowest wenches.

262

The circus flaminius. Located in the ninth district, of the same name, built 221 B.C.

263

Aelian Bridge. (Pons Aelius,) now the Angel Bridge.

264

Aqueducts. The magnificent water-works formed one of the principal ornaments of ancient Rome. “The mountain springs, conveyed for miles in subterranean pipes or over huge arches to the city, poured plashing from artificial grottos, spread out into vast, richly adorned reservoirs, or mounted in the jets of superb fountains, whose cool breath refreshed and purified the summer air.” (Friedländer, I, 14.)

265

Alta Semita corresponds with tolerable accuracy to the modern Via di Porta Pia.

266

Torches. Street lamps were unknown in ancient times, as well as throughout nearly the whole of the middle ages.

267

The old wall. (Agger Servii Tullii) extended from the Porta Collina to the Porta Esquilina. The neighboring region was considered the most corrupt in all Rome. The “wenches of the city wall” were often mentioned. (See for instance, Mart. Ep. III, 82, 2.)

268

The muddy wine of Veii. The wine made in the neighborhood of the little city of Veii, (northwest of Rome) was little prized. (See Mart. I, 103, 9, where the red Veian is called thick and full of lees.)

269

Game of odd and even. This game of chance, which is still very common, was extremely popular under the name ludere par impar. The opponent had to guess whether an odd or even number of gold pieces or other objects was held in the closed hand.

270

Ill-constructed houses. Every well-to-do citizen of ancient Rome had his own house. The great mass of poor people lived in rented dwellings, built by unprincipled speculators with unprecedented carelessness, on the principle “cheap and bad,” yet nevertheless leased at high prices. The fall of such houses was therefore no rare occurrence, as is proved by the constant association of the words “fire and fall” (incendia acruinae) – catastrophes which Strabo (V, 3, 7) characterizes as constant. (See also Senec. Ep. XC, 43, Cat. XXIII, 9; Juv. Sat. III, 7.)

271

Under the tiles, (sub tegulis,) was a common phrase for the upper story. (See Suet. Gramm. 9, where it is said of the poor schoolmaster Orbilius, that in his old age he lived “under the tiles.”)

272

Remember that in Rome every stone has eyes and ears. See Tacit. Ann., XI, 27, where Rome is called a “city that hears everything, and keeps silence about nothing.” Seneca too (De tranq. an. XII) is scandalized at the eaves-dropping which is common in Rome. Juvenal says an aristocratic Roman can have no secrets at all, for: “Servi ut taceant, jumenta loquentur, et canis et postes et marmora.” "Even if the slaves are discreet, the horses talk, and the house-dog, and the posts and marble walls. Close the windows and cover every chink with hangings, yet the next day the people in every tavern will be discussing the master’s doings." (Juv. Sat. IX, 102-109.)

273

Our pursuers are on our traces already. There were persons in Rome, who made a business of catching runaway slaves.

274

Ground set apart for criminals and outcasts. The usual mode of conducting a funeral under the emperors was to burn the corpse on a pyre (rogus); the original custom of interment had become more rare. Slaves and criminals were buried on the Esquiline Hill.

275

The Via Moneta led from the Flavian amphitheatre to the Porta Querquetulana.

276

The way of Stephanus. See (Suet Dom. 17,) where it is related of Stephanus, that he was accused of embezzling money. That such incredible forgeries of wills really occurred, is frequently explicitly stated by the ancient authors. Pliny (Ep. II, 11,) gives an amazing example of the insolence with which influential persons conducted their bribery.