Notes to Juvenal, Satura VI. 246-267

endromis, –idis f.
cloak; a Greek word. A cheap, coarse woollen cloak in which athletes wrapped themselves after exercise.
Tyrius, –a –um
of Tyre; Tyrian or Phoenician. The adjective refers to the purple dye produced in Tyre and prized by the wealthy; paired with endromidas, it is the first oxymoron of two in the line, suggesting Juvenal's outrage. Click on SPQR for a video on the origins of Tyrian purple.
fēmineus, –a –um
feminine. The Latin adjective with the Greek noun ceroma offers another contradiction in terms.
cērōma, –atis n.
wrestlers' ointment, a Greek word; a slippery rub of earth and oil to avoid capture by an opponent. The line contains a fifth foot spondee; what effect does it have?
nesciō, -ire, -ivi/ii, -itum
not know, be unfamiliar with, be unaware; subject is the interrogative pronoun quis.
vulnus, -eris n.
wound. Scan the line aloud for the effect of spondaic feet and the repetition of u sounds.
pālus, –ī m.
a stake, prop. A wooden stake was used in martial practice by soldiers and gladiators.
cavo (1)
pierce; make hollow, scoop out; excavate. The subject (matrona) is delayed to l. 250.
assiduus, –a –um
diligent, persistent; constant, unceasing.
rudis, –is f.
wooden staff or sword. Ablative of means. Used by soldiers and gladiators in training exercises (click on SPQR for replica).
scūtum, -i n.
oblong shield. Ablative of means. Click on the SPQR for ivory figure of a Murmillo holding a scutum, constructed of planks covered with embossed leather.
lacēssō, -ere, -īvī, ītum
attack, challenge, provoke.
omnis, -e
every; all; modifies numeros.
impleō, -ēre, -plēvī, -plētum
fill up, satisfy, complete. The subject is dignissima matrona.
numerus, -i. m.
number; position; part. Here, the exercises a gladiator would train with.
dīgnus, -a, -um
worthy; deserving, followed by the ablative case (Florali ... tuba). Superlative adjective modifying matrona.
prōrsus adv.
precisely, utterly, exactly.
Flōrālis, –e
of or belonging to the Floralia; modifies tuba. The festival of the goddess Flora which lasted from April 28 to May 3 was established as an annual festival in 173 BCE. A fertility ritual in which sex workers and sexual license played a major role.
matrona, -ae f.
a matron, mother. A sign of the times: Roman readers would have expected meretrix not matrona in connection with the Floralia.
tuba, –ae f.
a trumpet; trumpet–signal which opened a celebration. Scan for the case.
nisi conj.
unless; except, if not.
quis, quid pronoun
who, what; after si, nisi, num, ne, quis/quid = aliquis/aliquid, the object of agitat.
pectus, -oris n.
chest, breast; heart.
plus adv.
more; comparative of multum.
agito (1)
rouse, excite, impel, urge; the subject is matrona.
verus, -a, -um
real, true, actual, genuine.
paro (1)
prepare for, be ready; furnish; equip; note the passive voice.
h/arena, -ae f.
sand; arena. The arena was spread with sand to soak up the blood from the battles.
praesto, -are, -stiti, -stitum
exhibit, manifest; a complementary infinitive after potest. Read aloud lines 251-2 for the effect of the plosive alliteration.
mulier, -is f.
woman; wife; mistress.
galeatus, -a, um
helmed, wearing a helmet. Click on SPQR for an image of a gladiator's helmet.
pudor, -oris m.
decency, shame; sense of honor; modesty. The first word in the line quem is an interrogative adjective modifying pudorem, the last word in the line. Note the oxymoron in the juxtaposition of galeata pudorem.
fugio, -ire, fugi, fugitum
flee, escape; subject of the verb is quae, interrogative feminine pronoun.
sexus, -us m.
sex; understand muliebri.
vis, vis f.
force, power; violence; physical strength (in plural). Click on SPQR for image of a female gladiator.
tamen adv.
nevertherless, however.
ipse, ipsa, ipsum
himself, herself, itself; very (intensive).
vir, viri m.
man; husband. Note the play on words of vires and vir..
nōlō, nōlle, nōluī
be unwilling, not want, not wish, followed by the infinitive fieri; nollet is a potential subjunctive.
fiō, fierī, factus/a sum
become; happen, take place, be held.
quantulus, –a –um
how little, how small, how trifling; a small amount of; understand est.
voluptās, -atis f.
pleasure, enjoyment.
qualis, quale interrogative adjective
what sort of; of which sort, as; modifies decus.
decus, -oris n.
honor; glory, splendor, dignity.
res, rei f.
thing; property; matter; dependent on auctio.
coniunx, -iugis m.f.
spouse; wife, husband;here, wife; possessor of rerum.
auctio, -onis f.
public sale, auction.
balteus/um, -i m./n.
sword-belt. Click on SPQR for a replica of a gladiator belt.
manicae, -arum f. pl.
long sleeve of a tunic; glove, armlet, gauntlet. Click on SPQR for a reconstruction of the padded right-arm sleeve worn by the gladiator as well as the plumed helmet and belt.
crista, -ae f.
crest, plume; helmet (metonymically).
crus, -uris m.
shin, leg.
sinister, -tra, -trum
left; modifies cruris.
dimidius, -a, -um
the half; modifies tegimen.
tegimen, -inis n.
covering (for protection); here a short greave (click on SPQR). Click on SPQR for an image of the protective gear worn by the Samnite gladiator.
diversus, -a, -um
different, various, for example, fighting a Thracian-style gladiator.
moveo, -ere, movi, motum
undertake, promote, set in motion.
proelium, -ii n.
battle.
felix
fortunate, happy. Understand eris.
ocrea, -ae f.
greave, legging, a covering made of metal to protect the legs of soldiers and farmers; direct object of vendo (click on SPQR for image of long greaves worn by a gladiator).
vendo, -ere, -didi, venditum
sell; ablative absolute with puella.
puella, -ae f.
girl, girlfriend. What does Juvenal intend to say by using three different words for the women who adopt these garments?
tenuis, -e
thin, fine; delicate; ablative case modifying cyclade.
sudo (1)
sweat, perspire; the subject is quae.
cȳclas, -adis f.
robe, a Greek word; a woman's robe with a border embroidered at the hem.
deliciae, -arum f. pl.
delight, pleasure, charm; frolics; here, delicate parts.
panniculus, -i m.
scrap of clothing, rag; translate with et, used emphatically.
bombȳcinus, -a, -um
made of silk. The Romans imported silk from China through various middlemen.
uro, -ere, ussi, ustum
burn; the direct object is delicias.
aspicio, -ere, aspexi, aspectum
look at, behold; note Juvenal's direct address to the reader here and below (ride).
fremitus, -us m.
growl, loud noise; ablative of manner.
monstratus, -a, -um
learned, taught; modifies ictus.
perfero, -ferre, -tu, -latum
bring, drive home;subjunctive in indirect question introduced by quo.
ictus, us m.
blow, stroke.
quantus, -a, -um
how great; how much/many; ablative of means, it modifies pondere.
galea, -ae f.
helmet. Click on SPQR for another example of a gladiator helmet.
curvo (1)
to bend down, curve over, bow under; subjunctive in indirect question introduced by quanto.
pondus, -eris n.
weight; burden.
poples, -itis m.
the back of the knee; knee.
sedeo, -ere, sedi, sessum
sit, encamp; subjunctive in indirect question introduced by quanta.
quam adverb
as; how greatly, how much.
densus, -a, -um
thick, dense; modifies libro.
fascia, -ae f.
bandage, wrapping (for protection); subject of sedeat modified by quanta in l. 262.
liber, -bri m.
book; ablative of material. The Roman "book" was a rolled scroll, the shape and volume of which the padding around her leg resembles.
pono, -ere, posui, positum
put or place down; ablative absolute with armis.
scaphium, -ii, n.
potty bowl, basin, chamber pot. Click on SPQR for image of a chamber pot from Pompeii.
sumo, -ere, sumpsi, sumptum
take up, pick up; note the witty interlocking word order: positis scaphium ... sumitur armis.
neptis, -is f.
grand-daughter. Here Juvenal directly addresses (dicite vos) the female descendants of historic Roman nobility, shaming their misbehavior with examples of courageous action of males of their family on behalf of the state.
Lepidus, -i m.
Lepidus (cognomen).The Aemelii Lepidi were among the most prominent of the patrician gentes, tracing their descent from King Numa. Juvenal likely has in mind Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, (ca. 230-152 BCE), twice consul, Pontifex Maximus, and princeps Senatus, grandfather of the triumvir of the same name (click on SPQR for coin portrait of grandson). At age 15 he saved the life of a Roman citizen at the Battle of Cannae against Hannibal, where only 15,000 Roman soldiers and allies out of 86,000 survived. The Senate voted him an equestrian statue on the Capitoline, a remarkable honor for one so young.
caecus, -a, -um
blind; blinded.
Metellus, -i m.
Metellus (cognomen). L. Caecilius Metellus (ca. 290-221 BCE) was consul in 251 and 243 BCE, selected as Pontifex Maxiumus in 243 BCE, and dictator in 224 BCE. During his priesthood, when a fire engulfed the Temple of Vesta, Metellus rushed in to save the Palladium (the image of Pallas Athene Aeneas brought from Troy) and other sacred objects. The intense heat damaged his eyes and caused his blindness. To honor him the Senate gave him the privilege of being conveyed by chariot to meetings of the Curia. His descendants put images of Athena on their consular coins in commemoration of his devotion.
Gurges, -itis m.
whirlpool; a cognomen of opprobrium earned by one Q. Fabius Maximus. Translate aut before Gurgitis.
Fabius, -ii m.
Fabius (nomen). The Fabii were among the most ancient of Roman gente and held forty-five consulates during the Republic. Q. Fabius Maximus was nicknamed Gurges (whirlpool) for his dissolute life while young. Having reformed himself, he was consul in 292, 276, and 265 BCE. As curule aedilie in 295 he fined rich Roman matrons convicted of adultery and with the money built a temple of Venus Obsequens (Venus the Obedient, referencing the obedience and chastity expected of matrons) near the Circus Maximus.
ludia, -ae f.
female gladiator, gladiator's wife/ mistress; a performer; the word only occurs once in Martial and twice in Juvenal.
umquam adverb
ever.
habitus, us m.
style of dress; costume.
gemo, -ere, gemui
grunt, groan.
uxor, -oris f.
wife, by legitimate Roman marriage.
Asylus, -i m.
Asylus, foreign name, stock for a gladiator.


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