spectaculum, -i, n.
public show, spectacle.
par, paris
equal to (with
ac); ablative of description with
magnificentia.
prior,
prius, -oris
former, previous (i.e., in 62 CE);
understand spectacula.
inlustris, -e
distinguished, of
high social standing.
plus,
pluris, comparative adjective of multus
rather
many, more.
(h)arena,
ae, f.
sand, arena.
foedo (1)
disgrace; make
dirty; spoil the appearance of.
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Manius, -i m.
a common Roman
praenomen, used generically, like “John Doe,” to
refer to citizen males who have become so poor that they have sold themselves
to the gladiatorial schools.
aliquot, indeclinable adjective
some.
mulier, -is, f.
woman; wife.
essedarius, -a, -um
of or belonging to a
war-chariot; also used as a substantive: a fighter in a war
chariot, specifically the esseda, a war chariot used by Gauls and
Britons. The queen of the Iceni, Boudicca, drove her own war chariot in the
British revolt of 62 CE, destroying a Roman legion and burning London. As a
result, this gladitorial event would have seemed both exotic and thrilling to
the urban populace.
dispensator, -oris, m.
treasurer,
steward.
Glyco(n), -onis,
m.
Greek male proper name.
deprehendo, -hendere, -hendi, -hensus
catch, arrest.
delector (1, deponent)
delight,
seduce, have an affair with (this is the only occurrence of
delecto as a deponent verb); subjunctive after temporal
cum.
populi: the
people will take sides and riot when the steward is brought into the arena.
rixa, -ae f.
quarrel;
battle, skirmish.
zelot n.
indeclinable jealous man ,
referring to those supporting the husband.
amasiunculus, -a, m. f.
fond lover, a
diminutive form, refering to those supporting the steward.
sestertiarius,
-a, -um
worth only a sestertius (a small silver coin worth 2
½ asses or ¼ denarius); of little value.
bestiae, -arum f. pl.
wild beast fight in the
arena.
Hoc est:
that
is, that is to say, namely; what follows is a more
precise explanation of what was said just previously.
traduco, -ere, -duxi, -ductum
make a show
of, expose to public ridicule, disgrace. By sending the
dispensator to the arena, Glyco has made his wife’s
behavior public knowledge.
pecco
(1)
sin, crime, error.
cogo, -ere, coegi, coactus
compel,
force. As her slave, the steward had to obey his mistress.
matella, -ae f.
a
chamber-pot; a derogatory term for Glyco’s wife in light of her
behavior.
magis ...digna ...quam:
more worthy that.
taurus, -i m.
bull.
iacto (1)
toss; gore; potential
subjunctive, supply eam. Tying a woman to the horns of a bull
was one form of punishment in the arena.
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belliger, -gera,
-gerum
warlike, warring.
invictus, -a, -um
unconquerable,
always victorious.
tibi:
Domitian.
servio, -ire, -ivi, -itum +
dat.
serve, be of use to
Caesar: another title signifying emperor;
here, Domitian.
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prostratus, -a, -um
laid low; defeated; translate with in vasta
valle.
Nemees, -es, f.
Nemea, the valley in Argolis, Greece, where Hercules killed the savage
lion; the case is genitive.
leo, leonis
m.
lion; the entire line is in apposition to nobile et
Herculeum opus.
Herculeus, -a, -um
Herculean, of
Hercules.
cano, -ere, cecinni, ---
sing, honor in song.
priscus, -a, -um
ancient,
early, former.
fides, ei, f.
trust, honor;
word; belief
taceo, -ere, -ui,
tacitum
be silent; a hortatory subjunctive.
munus, muneris, n.
game, gladiator
show.
femineus, -a, -um
feminine, of a woman. Note the startling juxtaposition
of femineo Marte
hoc:
refers back to nobile et Herculeum
opus.
fateor, fateri, fassus
sum
accept as true; i.e., prior to Domitian’s games
no one would have thought it possible for a woman warrior to fight well.
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assidue adverb
continually.
edo, -ere,
-edidi, editum
put forth, produce; the subject is
Domitian.
non...modo ... verum
et:
not only...but also.
praeter preposition w. the accusative
besides, in addition to; followed by etiam.
sollemnis, -e
usual,
regular, annual.
bigae, -arum, f.pl.
two-horse chariot.
What then does quadrigae mean?
cursus, us, m.
race, running,
course.
equestris, -tris,
-tre
belonging to a horseman, equestrian.
pedester, -tris, -tre
on foot,
infantry, pedestrian.
committo, -ere, -missi, mittum
bring
together, undertake
at
conjunction
but, then, now.
venatio, -onis f.
hunt;
public show of fighting wild beasts; understand
edidit.
lychnuchus,
-i m.
lamp-stand, candlestick, chandelier (a
Greek word); with ad = by lamp/torch light.
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fremitus, -us m.
noise, uproar. In this poem Statius describes the huge
Saturnalia celebration Domitian hosted in the Colosseum for the whole
populace.
luxus, -us m.
extravagance, luxury.
spectandi: of looking, of
gazing. Translate the gerund with voluptas.
levis, -e
light,
trivial, quickly passing.
effugio, -ere, -fugi, ---
escape,
flee
sexus, -us m.
sex, gender (here, the feminine sex).
rudis, -e
untrained,
unskilled.
inscius, -a,
-um
unacquainted with, unpracticed.
ferrum, -i , n.
iron;
weapon.
ut, conjunction
an
exclamation: How!
improbus, -a, -um
inferior;
shameless; it is masculine because it modifies sexus.
Note how Statius avoids calling the female warriors women.
virilis,
-e
of men.
credas:
translate the potential subjunctive you would/could believe, followed
by indirect statement
Tanais, -,
m.
the Tanais river (the Don); it flowed through the territory of
the Sarmatians, which began north of the Danube and stretched from the Don to
the Vistula river.
ferus, -a, -um
wild, savage.
Phasis, -idos, m.
the Phasis river; it
flows through Colchis and into the Black Sea.
Thermodontiacus, -a, -um
of the river
Thermodon; here, of the Amazons. The Thermodon river flowed in
the area of the Pontus, the homeland of the Amazons.
caleo, -ere, calui, ---
be hot,
warm; glow; in reference to weapons and fighters, be warm
with activity.
turma, -ae f.
a division of Roman cavalry; troop, band, unit.
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