| Africanus | (or Scipio Africanus) A Roman general during the Second Punic War and later consul |
| Alamanni | A Germanic tribe which invaded Gaul and later northern Italy |
| Ambrose | A bishop of Milan who became one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the 4th century |
| amphora | (plural: amphorae) A large, elongated clay pot or jar, used for storing and transporting wine, oil, etc. |
| amulet | A small object worn around the neck as a protection against evil, bad luck, disease, etc. |
| Aquila | (eagle) An alternative name for the Roman god Jupiter; also, an eagle-shaped rock in the north-west of Elba |
| Arianism | A belief that asserts that Jesus Christ is subordinate to God the Father |
| Aristoteles | (or Aristotle) A very influential Greek philosopher and scientist |
| Augustinus | (or Saint Augustine) An early Christian theologian and philosopher whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and Western philosophy |
| Auster | The Roman god of the sirocco wind, who brought heavy cloud cover and fog or humidity |
| balneum | A bathroom |
| Barbarian | A generic name for various pagan or uncivilised tribes from northern Europe, which invaded the Roman Empire |
| Belisarius | A general of the Byzantine Empire under Emperor Justinian, who attempted to reconquer much of the Mediterranean territory of the former Western Roman Empire |
| Benedictus | (or Benedict of Nursia; c. 480 – 543 or 547). A Christian saint, who founded several monasteries in Italy and formulated the “Rule of Saint Benedict”, containing precepts for his monks |
| biblia sacra | The Holy Bible |
| Boethius | A Roman senator, consul and philosopher of the early 6th century |
| braccae | Shapeless trousers of wool or skin tied at the waist and ankles by cords |
| Branzini | The European sea bass |
| Byzantium | An ancient Greek city, which Emperor Constantine I made into the new capital of the Roman Empire in 330 AD, later renamed Constantinople; modern Istanbul |
| Capraria | The ancient name of the rocky islet of Capraia, north-west of Elba |
| carbatinae | A sort of of rustic leather shoes or sandals |
| Cassiodorus | A Roman statesman and writer, serving in the administration of Theoderic the Great, king of the Ostrogoths |
| caupona | A Roman inn, where travellers obtained food and lodging |
| centuria | A unit of approximately 100 Roman soldiers |
| Cerbonius | A Bishop of Populonia during the Barbarian invasions, renowned for miraculous incidents in connection with the Pope, angels and the Ostrogothic king Totila; he fled to the island of Elba when the Langobards attacked, and was later made a saint |
| Cervisia | Beer |
| challah | A special Jewish plaited bread eaten on Sabbath and holidays |
| Chione | The nymph or goddess of snow |
| Cicero | A very influential Roman philosopher, politician, lawyer, orator, political theorist, consul, and constitutionalist |
| circus | A large open-air venue used for public events such as chariot races, horse races, and other forms of entertainment |
| cithara | A stringed instrument similar to a lute, often used to accompany a singer or someone reciting poetry |
| codex | (pl. codices) An early form of book, made of sheets of handwritten paper or parchment, and bound with thick covers; codices gradually replaced wooden writing tablets and scrolls |
| Constantinople | The new name given to Byzantium in honour of Emperor Constantine I; modern Istanbul |
| Corsa | The ancient name of the Island of Corsica |
| dies Veneris | Friday |
| Duumvir | (Latin “one of the two men”) The official title of two joint magistrates in ancient Rome, the colonies and municipia |
| Ecce! | See! Look! |
| einkorn | One of the earliest cultivated forms of wheat |
| emmer | One of the earliest cultivated forms of wheat |
| Epulum Jovis | A sumptuous ritual feast offered to Jove (Jupiter) on the Ides of November during the ludi plebeii (plebeian games) |
| Fabricia | The main town of Ilves (Elba), originally on the hill above the port now known as Portoferraio |
| Fasces | A bundle of wooden rods, sometimes including an axe with its blade emerging, and symbolising a magistrate’s power and jurisdiction |
| Favonius | The Roman god of the west wind, who held dominion over plants and flowers |
| feria | (plural feriae) A “free day”, on which the people, especially the slaves, were not obliged to work; such festivals were one of the primary features of the Roman calendar |
| festina lente | (hasten slowly) Equivalent to more haste, less speed |
| focaccia | A flat oven-baked bread, which may be topped with herbs or other ingredients |
| follis | (plural: folles) A large bronze coin; approximate value 210 to a solidus |
| Franks | One of a group of Germanic tribes, who succeeded in conquering most of the Western Roman Empire |
| hobble | To prevent an animal from moving by tying their legs together |
| Goths | An East Germanic people, who played an important role in the fall of the Roman Empire |
| goyim | A Hebrew word meaning ‘nations’; by implication ‘non-Jews’ or ‘gentiles’. Used pejoratively to refer to Barbarians or Vandals |
| Hectate | A goddess associated with crossroads, entrance-ways, witchcraft and sorcery |
| Hercle! | By Hercules! An interjection used (by men only) to express strong feeling |
| Hercules | The son of Zeus Jupiter, a divine hero |
| Hieronymus | Saint Jerome |
| Historia Animalium | A natural history written by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle |
| Ilva | The ancient name of the Island of Elba |
| Ides | The 13th day of the Roman months with 29 days; the 15th day of the months with 31 days (March, May, July, October) |
| in situ | In its original position or place |
| in spiritu et veritate | In spirit and truth |
| Io! | An exclamation of joy or triumph |
| Jupiter | The king of the Roman gods and the god of sky and thunder, often represented as an eagle (aquila) |
| labdanum | A sticky brown resin obtained from rockrose shrubs, used in herbal medicine and as a perfume ingredient |
| Langobardi | A Germanic tribe, who invaded Italy and founded a kingdom in the northern part of the country in 567 AD |
| Late Antiquity | The period between the end of the Western Roman Empire and the Muslim conquests in the mid-7th century |
| lectus | A couch |
| lembos | A light vessel, used chiefly for piracy |
| liberta | A freedwoman |
| lictor | An officer, attendant on a magistrate, who bore the fasces and was responsible for punishing criminals |
| liquamen | (or garum) A very popular fermented fish sauce, used as a condiment |
| Longinus | A military governor of the Byzantine Empire, based in Ravenna |
| ludi | Public games, such as horse and chariot races, held in the circus for the entertainment of the people, and often the major feature of religious festivals |
| Ludi Florae | A licentious, pleasure-seeking festival in honour of the goddess Flora, held at the end of April and lasting six days |
| macchia | The fragrant Mediterranean shrub land, consisting of densely growing evergreen shrubs such as holm oak, Kermes Oak, tree heath, strawberry tree, sage, juniper, buckthorn, spurge olive and myrtle |
| Mane bonum! | Good morning! |
| Marciana | A hillside town in the north-west of Ilva |
| marten | A medium-sized carnivore, about the size of a large cat, prized for its rich brown fur, which is thick and silky in the winter |
| mastic | A resin obtained from the mastic tree, used as a medicine |
| Mauri | Fierce raiding tribes of north-west Africa |
| Meditrinalia | A Roman festival celebrated on October 11 in honour of the new vintage, which was offered as a libation to the gods for the first time each year |
| menafa | A Carthaginian word for ‘napkin’ |
| Mercurius | The Roman god of commerce and financial gain |
| Narses | One of the great generals in the service of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, instrumental in the reconquest of Italy between 550 and 570 AD |
| Naturalis Historia | A natural history written by the Roman natural philosopher Plinius (Pliny the Elder) |
| Neptunus | The Roman god of the sea |
| Nitela | Dormouse (an affectionate name) |
| Novum vetus vinum bibo, novo veteri morbo medeor | I drink new and old wine, to be healed of new and old sicknesses – a maxim recited at the Meditrinalia festival |
| oecus | The formal dining room of a Roman house. The menfolk recline on couches around a low table |
| Ostrogoths | A branch of the later Goths (the other major branch being the Visigoths), who, under Theoderic the Great, established a kingdom in Italy in the late 5th and 6th centuries |
| passus | A Roman measure of distance; nominally the length of a full stride |
| pes | A foot (unit of length) |
| Pelagius | The Pope’s representative during the Gothic blockade of Rome (542 to 546 AD), when he made great efforts to spare the lives of the people. Pope from 556 to 561 AD |
| physic | A medicine or drug, especially a cathartic or purge |
| Planasia | A low-lying island off the south-west corner of Elba; current name: Pianosa |
| Plinius | (Pliny the Elder) A Roman naturalist and naval commander of the early Roman Empire, author of the influential encyclopedia Naturalis Historia |
| podium | A balcony or stage |
| Pol! | By Pollux! Truly! Really! |
| pugio | A dagger |
| salve | A medical ointment used to soothe the head or treat various skin problems |
| Salve! | (Plural Salvete!) Hail! |
| solidus | A gold coin weighing about 4.5 grams, at this period worth 210 folles |
Somnium
Scipionis | Scipio’s Dream, the sixth book of Cicero’s De re publica, describing a fictional vision of the Roman general Scipio Aemilianus |
| spelt | An ancient species of wheat which was an important staple food in Late Antiquity |
| stadium | (plural: stadia) A Roman measure of distance, roughly 180-200 m |
| stoa | A covered walkways or porticos around a town square |
| strigil | A brass or wooden body scraper, used to remove oil, sweat and dirt after bathing |
| Submonte | A fictional village on the western slopes of Monte Capanne, Ilva |
| taberna | (plural: tabernae) A Roman shop, consisting of a stall or booth in the market place |
| tabula | a board game similar to backgammon |
| talisman | An object which is believed to have magical properties, such as bringing good luck or protecting from evil or harm |
| toga | A distinctive wollen garment of Ancient Rome which was wrapped around the body |
| toga pulla | A dark grey or brown toga reserved for periods of mourning |
| Totila | King of the Ostrogoths from 541 to 552 AD and a skilled military and political leader. By 543 he had recaptured almost all the territories in Italy that the Byzantine forces had recovered from his kingdom in 540 |
| Trivia | The Roman goddess of sorcery and witchcraft |
| uncia | (Plural unciae) An ounce |
| Ursa Major | The Great Bear or Plough, a constellation in the northern celestial hemisphere |
| Ursa Minor | The Little Bear, a constellation in the northern sky |
| Ursus | Bear (an affectionate name) |
| Vale! | (Plural Valete!) Goodbye! Farewell! |
| Vergelius | Virgil, an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period |
| Vigiles | The firefighters and police of Ancient Rome |
| Vigilius | Pope from 537 to 555; he summoned Cerbonius to explain his custom of celebrating mass before dawn, to which his parishioners objected |
| vilicus | A servant who had the superintendence of a villa, including all slaves |
