Four Horses For Tishtry Read online

  Her horses shied at her outburst, and she recalled herself and made the effort to be more circumspect. “I am ... grateful.”

  “I think I like the yell better,” Franciscus said ruefully. Then he put his small, well—shaped hand on her shoulder. “Come. There are horses you must inspect and two or three quadrigae to try out. Then we will arrange for the messenger to Barantosz.”

  Tishtry was so giddy with her sudden happiness that she skipped instead of walking, and this time she made no apology. As they reached the gate, she looked up at her master. “I have a great many plans,” she said, trying to anticipate his reaction.

  “Good: so have I.” He held the gate open and they went through together.

  ALBA LINEA: literally, white line. The starting point of a chariot race.

  AMPHITHEATER: the actual structure where the Great Games were held. The Circus Maximus in Rome seated over 50,000 spectators.

  ARENA (pl. ARENAE): literally, sand. The performing area of the Roman amphitheater.

  AUREUS (pl. AUREI): a gold coin, worth about twenty-five denarii or, in modern terms, between $35.00 and $50.00.

  AURIGATORE: a slave who took care of a chariot, the harness, bridles, yokes, and other gear, though not the horses.

  BESTIARII: a performing slave working specifically with animals. Racing charioteers were not bestiarii: stunt riders were.

  BIGA (pl. BIGAE): a small chariot pulled by two horses.

  BIREME: a ship with two ranks of oars, one above the other.

  CALDARIUM: a hot bath, usually taken in a small, waist-deep tub large enough to accommodate four to ten persons.

  CALIGULA (pl. CALIGULAE): the type of sandals worn by soldiers.

  CARACALLA: the long military cape worn by officers and Legion troops.

  DALMATICA (pl. DALMATICAE): a caftanlike garment, the most popular Roman dress. Used for business, social, and casual entertaining events, but not formal occasions.

  DENARIUS (pl. DENARII): a silver coin worth about $1.40 to $2.00 in modern terms.

  DISEASE OF THE CRAB: skin cancer (cancer is the Latin word for crab).

  EDITOR (pl. EDITORIS): the sponsor and patron of the Great Games, usually a noble or someone with political ambitions.

  ESSEDARIUS (pl. ESSEDARII): a performing slave, often used in arena combat. The essedarius drove a high-fronted chariot and disabled opponents with a lasso.

  FIVE-GAITED (five-paced): the “natural” gaits of horses are walk, trot, canter, and gallop. There are a number of “artificial” gaits, including racking, pacing, and the advanced steps of formal dressage.

  FOUNDER: to become injured or inflamed, as the hooves of a horse, causing lameness or similar disability.

  FREEDMAN: a slave who has received a grant of manumission, thereby gaining freedom.

  FREEMAN: any person born free of free or freed parents.

  FRIGIDARlUM: a cold bath, usually shallow, often located in the darkest part of a Roman bath complex. A frigidarium usually held no more than six people at a time.

  GATES OF DEATH: usually at the opposite end of the amphitheater from the Gates of Life. Those humans and animals that did not survive in the arena were taken out through the Gates of Death.

  GATES OF LIFE: the gates through which all arena slaves entered the arena except during certain aquatic events. If the slaves and their animals survived in the arena, they left through these gates as well.

  GREAT GAMES: any arrangement of amphitheater performances, usually including chariot races, various combats and hunts, and trained animal acts. In Latin, Ludi Maximi.

  LIQUAMEN: a sauce used in Roman cooking made of fermented fish. About as popular as mustard and catsup, and used as frequently.

  LITUUS (pl. LITUI): literally, a staff of office. In this case, a brass instrument, long and thin, with a narrow bell curved back toward the player.

  LUNGE: sometimes called a long line; a single long rein used by the equestrian to work with the horse while not riding it. The equestrian stands in an exercise area and works the horse on the lunge in a circle.

  MAJORDOMO: literally, in charge of the house. A slave responsible for a household, something like a butler.

  MASTER OF THE BESTIARII: a slave or freeman responsible for the securing and public appearance of animal acts at a specific amphitheater.

  META (pl. METAE): conical fenders located at either end of the spina.

  QUADRIGA (pl. QUADRIGAE): a chariot pulled by four horses. Racing quadrigae were lighter and smaller than road-use quadrigae and required more skill to drive.

  RETIARIUS (pl. RETIARII): an arena combat slave fighting with a net and long-handled trident, usually against secutores.

  SECUTOR (pl. SECUTORES): an arena combat slave fighting with a round shield, metal helmet, metal-studded leather shoulder armor, and a short sword, usually against retiarii.

  SPINA: literally, spine. The dividing wall down the middle of the arena, ranging from four to twenty feet in height, depending on the size of the amphitheater and what the amphitheater was equipped to do.

  TEPIDARIUM: a cool bath, often very large, like a swimming pool. The tepidarium usually adjoined a gymnasium and was a place to socialize as well as take exercise, swim, and have a massage.

  THERMOPOLIUM: a fast-food grill, usually a street-side business, specializing in hot foods and wine. A thermopolium offered limited seating, and the quality of the food served ranged from terrible to marvelous.

  TIBIA (pl. TIBIAE): literally, a shinbone. A Roman musical instrument, with a double-reed mouthpiece like the modern oboe and with four to eight finger holes.

  TUNICA (pl. TUNICAE): a standard garment in Roman dress. It was knee length, cut in an A shape, usually but not always without sleeves. Horsemen wore it with leggings. In winter several woolen tunicae were worn; in summer a single tunica of linen, cotton, or silk replaced them. The standard garment for children, informal social occasions, sports, and around-the-house wear.

  VENATION: an arena hunt. Usually specific animals would be hunted by specific hunters, such as wild boar hunted by dwarves, or ostriches being hunted by wolf hounds.

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