Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome

466 Pages·2004·17.227 MB·English

by  Lesley Adkins, Roy A. Adkins

HANDBOOK
TO LIFE
IN ANCIENT ROME
Updated Edition
LESLEY ADKINS AND ROY A. ADKINS
This book is dedicated to Mike Lang Hall
Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome, Updated Edition
Copyright © 2004, 1994 Lesley Adkins and Roy A. Adkins
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval
systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information contact:
Facts On File, Inc.
132 West 31st Street
New York NY 10001
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Adkins Lesley.
Handbook to life in ancient Rome / Lesley Adkins and Roy A. Adkins—Updated ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8160-5026-0
Rome—Civilization—Handbooks, manuals, etc. 2. Rome—History—Chronology—Handbooks, manuals, etc.
3. Rome—Pictorial works. 4. Heads of state—Rome—History—Chronology—Handbooks, manuals, etc.
I. Adkins, Roy (Roy A.) II. Title.
DG75.A35 2004
937—dc22 2003049255
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Cover design by Semadar Megged
Illustrations by Jeremy Eagle
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This book is printed on acid-free paper.
C
ONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS v Camps, Forts and Fortresses 95
Frontiers 101
INTRODUCTION vii Reading 106
LIST OF MAPS ix 3 GEOGRAPHY OF THE ROMAN
WORLD 109
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ix Expansion and Contraction of
the Roman World 110
LIST OF TABLES xiii The Provinces 118
Place-Names 130
1 REPUBLIC AND EMPIRE 1 Reading 137
Dates of Events 2
Prominent People 12 4 TOWNS AND COUNTRYSIDE 139
Emperors 19 Town Planning 140
Social Structure 38 Centuriation 141
Government 39 Types of Town 141
Taxes and Finance 47 Town Amenities 143
Laws 47 Villas 158
Reading 49 Gardens 161
Architects and Surveyors 162
2 MILITARY AFFAIRS 51 Building Techniques 164
History of the Legions 52 Decoration and Art 172
Numbering and Stations of Legions 56 Agriculture 177
Organization of Legions 64 Reading 181
Alae Sociorum 67
Garrison at Rome 68 5 TRAVEL AND TRADE 185
Auxiliaries 69 Maps and Itineraries 186
The Navy 71 Roads 189
Conditions of Service 78 Bridges and Tunnels 196
Active Service 81 Milestones 199
Weapons and Equipment 84 Land Transport 200
Honors 94 Merchant Ships 204
Rivers and Canals 209 8 ECONOMY AND INDUSTRY 339
Pirates 209 Coinage 340
Harbors 210 Prices and Inflation 348
Trade of Goods 212 Weights and Measures 348
Reading 218 Industries 351
Reading 370
6 WRITTEN EVIDENCE 221
Latin Language 222 9 EVERYDAY LIFE 373
Writing 225 Time 374
Education 231 Personal Relationships 376
Ancient Literature and Authors 231 Population 379
Inscriptions 258 Slaves 379
Personal Names 266 Food and Drink 380
Numerals 269 Personal Appearance 382
Reading 271 Entertainment 385
Punishment 390
7 RELIGION 273 Medicine 391
State Religion 274 Philosophy 393
Priests 276 Death and Afterlife 393
Gods and Goddesses 279 Reading 396
Religious Observance 309
Festivals 314 BIBLIOGRAPHY 399
Mystery Religions 320
Atheism 326 INDEX 412
Magic and Superstition 326
Religious Buildings 327
Ritual Objects 332
Reading 336
A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS
We are particularly grateful to Ernest Black for express our thanks to the Joint Library of the Hel-
his immeasurable help in reading and com- lenic and Roman Societies for their assistance in
menting on the entire manuscript. Also, for reading obtaining books. We are, of course, indebted to all
and commenting on specific chapters, we are most the authors of the published sources that we have
grateful to Miranda Aldhouse-Green, Valerie Max- consulted. Finally, we would like to thank our editor
field and Stephen Minnitt. All errors are, of course, Sheila Dallas for all her work.
our own. For help in obtaining or supplying pho- For the revised edition, we are grateful to Facts
tographs, we would like to thank Stephen Minnitt On File, in particular Claudia Schaab, for giving us
(Somerset County Museums Service, Taunton, En- the opportunity to undertake the work. Thanks are
gland) and Ralph Jackson. We would also like to also due to Jeremy Eagle for redrawing all the maps.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
v

I
NTRODUCTION
This book is intended to be a handy reference Because often a particular topic can be viewed in
tool for students and followers of Roman his- more than one way, it may be covered in more than
tory and archaeology, along similar principles to our one section. For example, wall paintings and mosaics
Handbook of British Archaeology that was first pub- can be considered from the structural viewpoint
lished in 1982. We are very pleased that the format (under building techniques) or as works of art. Where
to this Roman handbook has proved so successful this occurs, repetition of information has been kept to
that the publishers Facts On File has created a whole a minimum. The reader should make full use of the
series from our original idea. index to find all references to a particular subject and
From the 8th century BC, when Rome was a also the meanings of Latin words and other terms.
small settlement, to the fall of the western empire in Inevitably, there is room to do no more than summa-
the 5th century AD, the Roman period lasted more rize the various topics, but we have tried to provide
than 1,200 years. By then the empire was divided further references for readers wishing to know more
into eastern and western halves. The eastern half about any subject. For the most part, the reading ref-
survived as the Byzantine Empire, ruled from Con- erences concentrate on general, accessible sources in
stantinople (originally called Byzantium) rather than the English language, with good bibliographies,
from Rome. In this handbook, we have tried to which will enable anyone to pursue particular topics
include as much useful factual information as possi- in greater depth. As well as technical, historical and
ble relating to the entire Roman period up to the archaeological terms, we have also tried to give the
5th century AD. meaning of Latin words and phrases in common use.
The chapters are organized thematically rather Place-names are usually in English, except where
than chronologically, in order to give readers easier convention prefers the Latin or where no English
access to particular topics, but with an extensive index equivalent exists. Where the names of modern
to allow particular words to be searched. All too often countries are used, only the names of properly
archaeological evidence and historical evidence are defined territories at the time of writing have been
used in isolation from each other. We have therefore used. Measurements are given in metric with stan-
tried to select the most important aspects of both dis- dard U.S. equivalent measurements in parentheses.
ciplines. No attempt has been made to separate his- Where only approximate measurements are known,
torical from archaeological elements in the text, and U.S. and metric equivalents are given in round fig-
so there are no specific chapters devoted solely to ures, for example, “approximately 60 m (200 ft).”
archaeological evidence or artifacts. Roman measurements (such as Roman feet and
INTRODUCTION
vii
Roman miles) are described as such to distinguish new information. Techniques of archaeological study
them from U.S. measurements. Precise dates are are also advancing through computer technology
given wherever possible, but at times only approxi- and the application of methods from other scientific
mate dates are known. One written as c. 60–c. 50 BC disciplines. The number of new publications relating
means approximately 60 BCto approximately 50 BC. to Roman history and archaeology that appear each
Written as c.60–50 BC, it means approximately 60 year shows no sign of abating, making it ever more
BCto precisely 50 BC; and 60–50 BCmeans precisely difficult for students to keep track of the subject. In
60 BCto precisely 50 BC. The same applies to dates this updated edition, we have therefore concentrated
AD, although ADis not usually stated except for rea- especially on extensively revising the Reading sec-
sons of clarity. tions at the end of each chapter, along with the Bib-
liography, so that many new sources (most published
since 1994) have been incorporated for those wishing
to pursue particular studies further. In addition, all
Updated Edition
the chapters have been updated, corrected and
expanded where necessary, with some reorganization
Roman history and archaeology are not static sub- of text for improved clarity. Several new illustrations
jects, since research worldwide is constantly adding have also been included.
HANDBOOK TO LIFE IN ANCIENT ROME
viii