Glossary | Roman Inscriptions of Britain

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <title>Glossary | Roman Inscriptions of Britain</title> <meta name="collection" content="schools"> <meta name="dcterms.type" content="schools"> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, shrink-to-fit=no"> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-5HCHBZW8PK"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-5HCHBZW8PK'); </script> <link rel="icon" href="/img/favicon.png" type="image/png"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="//fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Cardo:400,400italic&subset=latin,greek-ext,greek,latin-ext" type="text/css"> <link rel='stylesheet' href='//fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Cinzel:400,700' type='text/css'> <link rel="stylesheet" href="//fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Roboto:400,400i,700,700i&subset=latin-ext"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="//use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.8.1/css/all.css">  <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap@5.3.3/dist/css/bootstrap.min.css" integrity="sha384-QWTKZyjpPEjISv5WaRU9OFeRpok6YctnYmDr5pNlyT2bRjXh0JMhjY6hW+ALEwIH" crossorigin="anonymous"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap-icons@1.11.1/font/bootstrap-icons.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/rib.min.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/custom.min.css"> </head> <body id="body-schools-glossary"> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="row header"> <div class="col"> <header> <h2 class="site-title"><a href="/" title="Home">Roman Inscriptions of Britain</a></h2> </header> </div> </div> <nav class="navbar navbar-expand-xl navbar-dark bg-dark"> <div class="container"> <button class="navbar-toggler" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#mainNav" aria-controls="mainNav" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Toggle navigation"> <span class="navbar-toggler-icon"></span> </button> <div class="collapse navbar-collapse" id="mainNav"> <ul class="navbar-nav me-auto mb-2 mb-lg-0">  <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/" class="nav-link">Home</a> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown"> <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="#" data-bs-toggle="dropdown">About</a> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/about/about-rib-online">About RIB Online</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/about/editorial-policy">Editorial Policy</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/about/credits-acknowledgements">Credits and Acknowledgements</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/about/privacy-cookies">Privacy & Cookie Policy</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/about/terms-of-use">Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/about/contact">Contact</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown" id="navmenu-inscription"> <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="#" data-bs-toggle="dropdown">Inscriptions</a> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/rib/">Roman Inscriptions of Britain</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/tabvindol/">Vindolanda Tablets</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/tablondbloomberg/">Bloomberg Tablets</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/tabsulis/">Bath Tablets</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/inscriptions/search">Search</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/inscriptions/searchnumber">Search by Number</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown" id="navmenu-site"> <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="#" data-bs-toggle="dropdown">Sites</a> <ul class="submenu dropdown-menu"> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/counties">Browse by County</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/sites/latin-name">Browse by Latin Name</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/sites/england">Browse by Name-England</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/sites/hadrians-wall">Browse by Name-Hadrian’s Wall</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/sites/scotland">Browse by Name-Scotland</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/sites/wales">Browse by Name-Wales</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/sites/beyond-great-britain">Browse by Name-Beyond Great Britain</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/sites/index">Index of Site Names</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/sites/map">Map of Sites</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown" id="navmenu-institution"> <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="#" data-bs-toggle="dropdown">Institutions</a> <ul class="submenu dropdown-menu"> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/institutions/name">Browse Institutions by Name</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/institutions/location">Browse Institutions by Location</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/institutions/map">Map of Institutions</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown" id="navmenu-reference"> <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="#" data-bs-toggle="dropdown">Reference</a> <ul class="submenu dropdown-menu"> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/bibliography">Bibliography</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/concordances">Concordance Tables</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/reference/critical-signs">Critical Signs</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/reference/glossary">Glossary</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/indexes">Indexes</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/epindex">Vol. I Epigraphic Indexes (1983)</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown" id="navmenu-schools"> <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="#" data-bs-toggle="dropdown">Schools</a> <ul class="submenu dropdown-menu"> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/schools/about">About</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/schools/how-to-use">How to Use</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/schools/glossary">Glossary</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/schools/age-groups">Age Groups</a></li> <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="/schools/themes">Themes</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <form role="search" name="queryNav" method="get" action="/inscriptions/search"> <div class="form-group"> <div class="input-group"> <span class="input-group-text" id="basic-addon1"><a href="#" class="info" data-bs-toggle="modal" data-bs-target="#searchInfoModal"><i class="fa fa-info-circle fa-lg"></i></a></span> <input class="form-control" type="search" id="arg_qv" name="qv" placeholder="Search term(s)" aria-label="Search"> <button class="btn btn-light appendix" type="submit" name="submit" id="send"><i class="fa fa-search fa-lg"></i></button> </div> </div> </form>  <div class="modal fade" id="searchInfoModal" tabindex="-1" role="dialog" aria-labelledby="searchInfoModalLabel" aria-hidden="true"> <div class="modal-dialog"> <div class="modal-content"> <div class="modal-header"> <h4 class="modal-title" id="searchInfoModalLabel">Search <em>RIB</em></h4> <button type="button" class="close" data-bs-dismiss="modal"><span aria-hidden="true">×</span><span class="sr-only">Close</span></button> </div> <div class="modal-body"> <p>This on-line edition is fully indexed and searchable. Here's some guidance:</p> <ul> <li> If you already know the number of the inscription from <em>RIB</em>, or tablet from the Vindolanda or Bloomberg Tablets, you could <a href="/inscriptions/searchnumber">Search by number</a>. Note that only those inscriptions in <em>RIB</em> volumes I (1-2400) and III (3001-3550) may currently be found. </li> <li> Enter the search term you are interested in, e.g., <strong>Mithras</strong>, <strong>Vindolanda</strong>, or <strong>Caracalla</strong>. </li> <li> Searching is case-<em>insensitive</em>. This means searching for <strong>IMPERATOR</strong> will return exactly the same results as <strong>imperator</strong>. </li> <li> Boolean searches are supported. If you want to see inscriptions that mention Mars <em>or</em> Cocidius, enter <strong>Mars OR Cocidius</strong>. Likewise, if you want to see inscriptions that mention Mars <em>and</em> Cocidius, enter <strong>Mars AND Cocidius</strong>. You must use capital letters for <strong>OR</strong> or <strong>AND</strong> - otherwise the search engine will interpret <strong>or</strong> (or <strong>and</strong>) as a search term. </li> <li> Wild card searching is supported. E.g., searching for <strong>Sul*</strong> will return results including Suleviae, Sulinus, Sulis, Sulpicius, etc. </li> <li> Searches for phrases consisting of more than one word should be enclosed within double quotation marks. E.g., searching for <strong>"Old Carlisle"</strong> will return results containing the phrase <strong>"Old Carlisle"</strong>, but omit inscriptions containing only <strong>Old</strong> and only <strong>Carlisle</strong>. </li> <li> After you receive your first set of search results, you will have the option to apply further filtering criteria. </li> <li> Note that all Latin words have been lemmatised. This means searching for 'cohors' will return inscriptions containing <em>cohors</em>, <em>cohortis</em>, etc. </li> <li> The search functionality currently searches the texts of each inscription, as well as its English translation and all associated metadata. It is hoped that the filtering function can help to reduce the number of search results. An advanced search interface is being developed that will permit more fine-grained search queries and give the user significantly more control over search results. </li> <li> Dates: Given the inherent difficulty in dating inscriptions, most have not been assigned a particular date or range of dates any more specific than those of the traditionally recognized Romano-British era (<span class="sc">a.d.</span> 43-410). This means that queries for a certain range of dates will be over-inclusive, since all undated inscriptions will necessarily fall within any range specified. To avoid this, a checkbox labeled "Included undated inscriptions" has been added to the Date Range filter panel, which is not ticked by default. If you wish search for all inscriptions that may possibly fall within the date range specified, dated or undated, simply tick this box.</li>  </ul> </div> <div class="modal-footer"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-default" data-bs-dismiss="modal">Close</button> </div> </div> </div>  </div> </div> </div> </nav>  <div id="main-content" class="row main-content justify-content-center"> <noscript><p>For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the <a href="//www.enable-javascript.com/" target="_blank"> instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser</a>.</p></noscript> <div class="col col-xxl-10">  <nav aria-label="breadcrumb"> <ol class="breadcrumb"> <li class="breadcrumb-item"><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li class="breadcrumb-item"><a href="/schools">Schools</a></li> <li class="breadcrumb-item active" aria-current="page">Glossary</li> </ol> </nav>  <section id="schools-header"> <h1>Glossary for Schools</h1> <p>Latin words are in <span class="latin">italics</span>. These are words that are helpful for understanding the RIB in Schools materials. Many more Latin words are included in the <a href="/reference/glossary">glossary of Latin terms</a>.</p> <dl> <dt>Addenda</dt> <dd>Sometimes you will see this word introducing a section below the commentary of a record. These are things which have been found out since the original publication of the inscription. They may be suggestions for reading the text differently, for example.</dd> <dt>Ansate</dt> <figure class="figure"> <a href="/inscriptions/219" target="_blank"><img src="/images/RIB000219.png" class="figure-img img-fluid rounded schools-glossary-img" alt="RIB 219 - Dedication to Mars Toutatis- example of ansate insccription"></a> <figcaption class="figure-caption">Drawing by R.P. Wright (1954)</figcaption> </figure> <dd>Is used to described a distinctive shape of inscription or part of an inscription, which has triangular-shaped handles. <a href="/inscriptions/219"><em>RIB</em> 219</a> is a good example of an ansate inscription.</dd> <dt>Caparisoned</span></dt> <dd>A caparison is the often richly decorated covering placed on horses. A caparisoned horse is one with a decorative cover.</dd> <dt><span class="latin">Centuria</span> ‘century’</dt> <dd>This is a Roman military unit, for most of the Roman period in <span class="latin">Britannia</span> this would have comprised around 80 soldiers.</dd> <dt><span class="latin">Centurio</span> ‘centurion’</dt> <dd>A military rank in the Roman army, usually the commander of a <span class="latin">centuria</span> (<em>c.</em> 80 soldiers).</dd> <dt>Century</dt> <dd> <ol> <li>The period of time of 100 years, from Latin <span class="latin">centum</span> ‘a hundred’, OR</li> <li>The English translation for <span class="latin">centuria</span>.</li> </ol> </dd> <dt>Consul(ship)</dt> <dd>The consulship was a position of importance in the imperial period, though less powerful than it had been under the Republic. There were a small number of consuls each year. Names of the consuls formed ‘consular dating’, which indicated the year by the consuls in office at the time. The Latin abbreviation for ‘consul’ was <span class="latin">COS</span>.</dd> <dt><span class="latin">Cornucopia</span></dt> <dd>This is a horn-shaped container overflowing with fruit and/or other produce.</dd> <dt><span class="latin">Curator</span></dt> <dd><item>A junior offcicer in an <span class="latin">ala</span> or <span class="latin">centuria</span>, charged with responsibility for a particular task, e.g., provisioning or financial affairs.</dd> <dt>Cursive</dt> <dd>A style of handwriting in which letters are joined together in a flowing manner.</dd> <dt><span class="latin">Decurio</span> ‘decurion’</dt> <dd>A Roman cavalry officer who commanded a <span class="latin">turma</span> of ten horse-mounted solders. The same term is used as the title of a member of a municipal or colonial senate, not unlike a modern town councillor.</dd> <dt>Dedicatory</dt> <dd>The term used to refer to inscriptions that are dedicated to someone/something. For example there are many Roman dedicatory inscriptions for deities. Some are also dedicated to humans, usually emperors or other imperial family members.</dd> <dt>Edition</dt> <dd>The ‘edition’ is the reconstructed version of the text that has been created by an editor, using things that make reading it easier for a modern user, for example lower case letters and capitalization. It represents the text as understood by the editor using epigraphic conventions such as showing expanded abbreviations in brackets, e.g., ‘co(n)s(ul)’, and restored text in square brackets, e.g., ‘[et]’.<br/> The ‘diplomatic edition’ shows the text more closely to how it appears on the stone itself, i.e. with capitals, ligatures between letters and bars over numerals. You can find the complete list of all epigraphic conventions used in <em>RIB</em> on the <a href="/reference/critical-signs">Critical Signs</a> page.</dd> <dt>Epigraphy</dt> <dd>The study of writing on things. See the <a href="/schools/about">About</a> page for more information, or this video [link].</dd> <dt>Flange</dt> <dd>A projecting rim on the base of a ceramic vessel, e.g., a dish, as on <a href="/inscriptions/2502.14" target="_blank"><em>RIB</em> 2502.14</a>.</dd> <dt>Fragmentary</dt> <dd>This is the term that is used to refer to inscriptions which are not complete.</dd> <dt>Funerary</dt> <dd>Funerary inscriptions are the texts put on tombstones (and occasionally on pottery) to commemorate the dead. Sometimes these were composed by the dead individuals themselves before death, though mainly the texts were composed by members of the individual’s extended <span class="latin">familia</span>, members of a burial club, or, for example, army associates.</dd> <dt>Gesso</dt> <dd>White plaster used on inscriptions to make it easier to add colour to letters or sculptural details.</dd> <dt>Iconography</dt> <dd>The images and symbols used alongside the text in some objects carrying inscriptions.</dd> <dt>Lapidary</dt> <dd>‘Lapidary inscriptions’ is a fancy (Latinate!) way of saying ‘stone inscriptions’.</dd> <dt><span class="latin">Legio</span> ‘legion’</dt> <dd>The legion is a Roman army formation recruited from Roman citizens consisting of around 60 centuries grouped in ten cohorts. The main legions serving in <span class="latin">Britannia</span> were <span class="latin">Legiones II Augusta</span>, <span class="latin">IX Hispana</span>, <span class="latin">XIV Gemina</span>, <span class="latin">VI Victrix</span>, <span class="latin">XX Valeria Victrix</span>. They appear in the inscriptions.</dd> <dt>Oolite (adj. Oolitic)</dt> <dd>A type of sedimentary rock which is made from grains that look like tiny eggs. This type of rock can be found in the Cotswolds and Isle of Portland. It is very good stone for carving.</dd> <dt><span class="latin">Patera</span></dt> <dd>This is a shallow bowl made of metal or ceramic with no handles often used to offer libations (usually wine) to the gods. In Britannia those with inscriptions are always made of bronze.</dd> <dt><span class="latin">Pilaster</span></dt> <dd>This is a column, usually sticking out of a wall, which is only decorative.</dd> <dt><span class="latin">Primus pilus</span></dt> <dd>This is the name of the highest-ranking centurion of a legion.</dd> <dt>Provenance</dt> <dd>A record of ownership of an archaeological object, including inscriptions, used as a guide to their authenticity or quality.</dd> <dt>Retrograde</dt> <dd>A style of writing in which the letters, words, and/or sentences are written in the direction opposite of that in which they are normally written. This style is often used in inscriptions on dies intended to be impressed into another material, so that the ‘mirror image’ text is plainly legible in the resulting impression. For an example, see this <a href="/inscriptions/2446.12" target="_blank">oculist's stamp (<em>RIB</em> 2446.12)</a>.</dd> <dt>Stele</dt> <dd>A stone slab, often large and generally taller than it is wide, used for text and/or images.</dd> <dt>Stylus</dt> <dd>This is the writing implement that is commonly used to write into wax-filled stylus tablets. You can read about Roman writing equipment <a href="https://latinnowepubs.github.io/WritingEquipmentVol2/mobile/index.html" target="_blank">here</a>. We also have an in-depth explainer video on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G63lMb4Gh9c" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.</dd> <dt>Toga</dt> <dd>Is a distinctively Roman form of dress, involving a large amount of material draped around the body. Exclusively worn by adult male Roman citizens. See <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EyStjkII-Y" target="_blank">this video</a> for more information.</dd> <dt><span class="latin">Vacat</span></dt> <dd>If you see <em>vacat</em> written in italics in the edition of the inscription it has been added by the modern editor of the inscription to indicate that there is a space that has been left in the text by the Roman author. It is a Latin word and it literally means 'it is empty' and it gives us our English 'vacant'.</dd> <dt>Vexillation</dt> <dd>A <span class="latin">vexillatio</span> is a ‘detachment’ of soldiers drawn from a one or more legions or auxiliary units.</dd> </dl> <dt>Votive</dt> <dd>A votive text is one which records the fulfillment of a vow made to a deity/deities, this might be the putting up of the object on which the text written (e.g. an altar), a sacrifice or restoring a public building.</dd> </section> </div> </div>  <div class="row footer justify-content-center"> <footer> <div class="col-md-12"> <p>© 2014-2024 - <a href="/about/terms-of-use">Terms of Use</a> - <a href="/about/privacy-cookies">Privacy & Cookie policy</a></p> </div> <div class="cookies-box hide" id="cookie-disclaimer"> <p>We use cookies to track usage and preferences.</p> <p><button class="button closeme center" aria-label="Dismiss alert" type="button">Accept</button></p> <p><a href="/about/privacy-cookies">Privacy & Cookie Policy</a></p> <button class="close-button" aria-label="Dismiss alert" type="button">Close <span aria-hidden="true">×</span></button> </div> </footer> </div> </div>   <div class="modal fade" id="rptErrModal" tabindex="-1" role="dialog" aria-labelledby="myModalLabel" aria-hidden="true"> <div class="modal-dialog modal-xl"> <div class="modal-content"> <div class="modal-header"> <h4 class="modal-title" id="myModalLabel">Report an error</h4> <button type="button" class="close" data-bs-dismiss="modal"><span aria-hidden="true">×</span><span class="sr-only">Close</span></button> </div> <div id="emailDlgBody" class="modal-body"> <form class="form-horizontal" method="post" id="rptErrForm" name="rptErrForm" action="/contactsubmit.php" onsubmit="javascript:contactSubmit('rptErrForm');return false;"> <input name="subject" value="Error Report" type="hidden"> <input name="mode" value="modal" type="hidden"> <input name="source" value="https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/schools/glossary" type="hidden"> <p>Have you found a typo, mistake, or other error on this page? Help us improve <em>RIB</em> by letting us know. Please indicate where the error occurs and provide as much detail as you can. If possible, please also provide citations supporting your assertion. Thank you!</p> <div class="form-group"> <label for="inputName" class="col-sm-2 control-label">Name</label> <div class="col-sm-10"> <input class="form-control" id="inputName" name="name" placeholder="Your name" type="text"> </div> </div> <div class="form-group"> <label for="inputEmail" class="col-sm-2 control-label">Email</label> <div class="col-sm-10"> <input class="form-control" id="inputEmail" name="email" placeholder="Your email address" type="email"> </div> </div> <div class="form-group contactwebsite"> <label for="inputWebsite" class="col-sm-2 control-label">Website</label> <div class="col-sm-10"> <input class="form-control" id="inputWebsite" name="website" placeholder="Leave this field empty" type="text"> </div> </div> <div class="form-group"> <label for="inputSection" class="col-sm-2 control-label">Where</label> <div class="col-sm-10"> <select class="form-control" name="section" id="inputSection"> <option selected="selected">This Page</option> <option>Map Location</option> <option>List of Inscriptions</option> <option>Other</option> </select> </div> </div> <div class="form-group"> <label for="inputDescription" class="col-sm-2 control-label">Description</label> <div class="col-sm-10"> <textarea class="form-control" rows="4" name="message" required="" id="inputDescription"></textarea> </div> </div> <div class="form-group"> <div class="g-recaptcha" data-sitekey="6LdNXCYUAAAAAMLq7gwqar9IFo-mSTfp-wwszk3P"></div> </div> <div class="form-group"> <div class="col-md-12"> <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary pull-right">Send</button> </div> </div> </form> </div> <div class="modal-footer"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-default" data-bs-dismiss="modal">Close</button> </div> </div> </div> </div>    <script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.7.1.min.js" integrity="sha256-/JqT3SQfawRcv/BIHPThkBvs0OEvtFFmqPF/lYI/Cxo=" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> <script src="https://code.jquery.com/ui/1.14.0/jquery-ui.min.js" integrity="sha256-Fb0zP4jE3JHqu+IBB9YktLcSjI1Zc6J2b6gTjB0LpoM=" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap@5.3.3/dist/js/bootstrap.bundle.min.js" integrity="sha384-YvpcrYf0tY3lHB60NNkmXc5s9fDVZLESaAA55NDzOxhy9GkcIdslK1eN7N6jIeHz" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/js-cookie@2/src/js.cookie.min.js"></script> <script src="https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js" async defer></script> <script src="/js/typeahead.min.js"></script> <script src='/js/jquery.tablesorter.min.js'></script> <script src="/js/bootstrap5-multilevel-nav.js"></script> <script src="/js/rib.min.js"></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Glossary | Roman Inscriptions of Britain