Quintus Claudius: A Romance of Imperial Rome. Volume 1Eckstein, Ernst
History
Quintus Claudius: A Romance of Imperial Rome. Volume 1
Eckstein, Ernst
Rome -- History -- Flavians, 69-96 -- Fiction
[11] FREEDMAN. The institution of slavery (_servitium_) which
existed from ancient times, was an extremely important factor
in the organization of Roman society. The slaves (_servi_)
were the absolute property of their masters, who had unlimited
control over their destinies and lives. (This right was
not withdrawn until A.D. 61, when the law of Petronius
prohibited the arbitrary condemnation of slaves to combats
with wild beasts, etc.) The slave could then be released
by the so-called _manumissio_, and was styled _libertus_
or _libertinus_. His position depended upon the greater or
less degree of formality with which the _manumissio_ was
granted. The most solemn manner bestowed all the rights of
the free-born citizen, but even in this case he was socially
burdened with the same stigma that rests upon the emancipated
slaves in the United States. If a freedman attained power
and influence--which under the emperors was very common--the
haughty representatives of the ancient noble families paid him
external respect, it is true, but the man’s origin was never
forgotten.
[12] TRAJECTUM. A Batavian city in the Roman province Germania, now
Utrecht.
[13] GADES. A city in southern Spain, the modern Cadiz.
[14] PANORMUS. A city on the north coast of Sicily, the modern
Palermo.
[15] CORYBAS. In the plural _Corybantes_; priests of Cybele. Their
worship was a wild orgy with war-dances and noisy music.
(Horace, _Od._ I, 16, 8: _non acuta si geminant Corybantes
aera, etc._)
[16] OSTIA. The port of Rome, situated at the mouth of the Tiber.
[17] MASSILIA. An important city founded by the Greeks on the
southern coast of Gaul, now called Marseilles.
[18] RUGII. A German race occupying a considerable part of the
coast of the Baltic--the present Pomerania and island of Rügen.
[19] FRISII. A German race settled in the northern part of what is
now Holland and farther east beyond Ems (_Amisia_).
[20] BREAKFAST. The first meal after rising was called
_jentaculum_. In the time of the republic (and still later
among the poorer classes) it consisted principally of pulse.
Among the wealthy luxury intruded even here; but in comparison
with the second breakfast (_prandium_) and especially with the
principal repast (_coena_) the _jentaculum_ always remained
frugal.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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