Fire in the East (59 page)
Authors: Harry Sidebottom
Germania:
The lands where the German tribes lived.
The lands where the German tribes lived.
Gladius:
A Roman military short sword; generally superseded by the
spatha
by the mid-third century AD; also slang for ‘penis’.
A Roman military short sword; generally superseded by the
spatha
by the mid-third century AD; also slang for ‘penis’.
Goths:
A confederation of Germanic tribes.
A confederation of Germanic tribes.
Harii:
A German tribe, renowned night fighters.
A German tribe, renowned night fighters.
Haruspex,
plural
haruspices:
A priest who divines the will of the gods; one would be part of the official staff of a Roman governor.
plural
haruspices:
A priest who divines the will of the gods; one would be part of the official staff of a Roman governor.
Hibernia:
Modern Ireland.
Modern Ireland.
Hyperboreans:
Legendary race of men who lived in the far north, beyond the north wind.
Legendary race of men who lived in the far north, beyond the north wind.
Hypozomata:
A rope forming the undergirdle of a trireme; there were usually two of them.
A rope forming the undergirdle of a trireme; there were usually two of them.
Ides:
the thirteenth day of the month in short months, the fifteenth in long months.
the thirteenth day of the month in short months, the fifteenth in long months.
Immortals:
A Sassanid guard unit of (possibly) 1 ,000 men.
A Sassanid guard unit of (possibly) 1 ,000 men.
Imperium:
The power to issue orders and exact obedience; official military command.
The power to issue orders and exact obedience; official military command.
Imperium romanum:
The power of the Romans, i.e., the Roman empire.
The power of the Romans, i.e., the Roman empire.
Jan-avasper:
Those who sacrifice themselves, a Sassanid guard unit.
Those who sacrifice themselves, a Sassanid guard unit.
Kalends:
The first day of the month.
The first day of the month.
Kyrios:
Lord, Master, Sir; a title of respect (Greek).
Lord, Master, Sir; a title of respect (Greek).
Lanista:
A trainer of gladiators.
A trainer of gladiators.
Legio IIII Scythica:
A Roman legion from the second half of the first century AD based at Zeugma in Syria; in
Fire in the East
a detachment,
vexillatio,
of this legion forms part of the garrison of the city of Arete.
A Roman legion from the second half of the first century AD based at Zeugma in Syria; in
Fire in the East
a detachment,
vexillatio,
of this legion forms part of the garrison of the city of Arete.
Legion:
A unit of heavy infantry, usually about 5 ,000 men strong; from mythical times the backbone of the Roman army; the numbers in a legion and the legion’s dominance in the army declined during the third century AD as more and more detachments,
vexillationes,
served away from the parent unit and became more or less independent units.
A unit of heavy infantry, usually about 5 ,000 men strong; from mythical times the backbone of the Roman army; the numbers in a legion and the legion’s dominance in the army declined during the third century AD as more and more detachments,
vexillationes,
served away from the parent unit and became more or less independent units.
Libertas:
Latin for liberty or freedom, its meaning was contingent on when it was said and who by.
Latin for liberty or freedom, its meaning was contingent on when it was said and who by.
Librarius:
The bookkeeper or scribe of a Roman military unit.
The bookkeeper or scribe of a Roman military unit.
Liburnian:
A name given in the time of the Roman empire to a small warship, possibly rowed by about fifty men on two levels.
A name given in the time of the Roman empire to a small warship, possibly rowed by about fifty men on two levels.
Limes imperii:
Latin for the limits of empire, the borders of the Roman imperium.
Latin for the limits of empire, the borders of the Roman imperium.
Magi:
Name given by Greeks and Romans to Persian priests, often thought of as sorcerers.
Name given by Greeks and Romans to Persian priests, often thought of as sorcerers.
Mandata:
Instructions issued by the emperors to their governors and officials.
Instructions issued by the emperors to their governors and officials.
Margazan:
Persian term for one who commits a sin, like cowardice in battle, and deserves death.
Persian term for one who commits a sin, like cowardice in battle, and deserves death.
Mazda:
(Also Ahuramazda) ‘The Wise Lord’, the supreme god of Zoroastrianism.
(Also Ahuramazda) ‘The Wise Lord’, the supreme god of Zoroastrianism.
Mentula:
Latin obscenity for penis, i.e., ‘prick’.
Latin obscenity for penis, i.e., ‘prick’.
Meridiatio:
Siesta time.
Siesta time.
Meshike:
The site of a battle fought some time between 13 January and 14 March AD244 in which Shapur I claimed to have defeated Gordian III. Greek and Roman sources do not mention this battle. Renamed Peroz-Shapur, the ‘Victory of Shapur’, by the Sassanid king, it became known as Pirisabora to the Romans.
The site of a battle fought some time between 13 January and 14 March AD244 in which Shapur I claimed to have defeated Gordian III. Greek and Roman sources do not mention this battle. Renamed Peroz-Shapur, the ‘Victory of Shapur’, by the Sassanid king, it became known as Pirisabora to the Romans.
Miles,
plural
milites:
Soldier.
plural
milites:
Soldier.
Mobads:
Persian name for class of priests.
Persian name for class of priests.
Murmillo:
A type of heavily armed gladiator with a helmet crest in the shape of a fish.
A type of heavily armed gladiator with a helmet crest in the shape of a fish.
Nones:
The ninth day of a month before the
ides,
i.e., the fifth day of a short month, the seventh of a long month.
The ninth day of a month before the
ides,
i.e., the fifth day of a short month, the seventh of a long month.
Numerus,
plural
numeri:
Latin name given to a Roman army unit, especially to ad hoc units outside the regular army structure, often units raised from semi- or non-Romanized peoples which retained their indigenous fighting techniques; thus in
Fire in the East
the titles of the units formed from mercenaries and local levies and commanded by the caravan protectors.
plural
numeri:
Latin name given to a Roman army unit, especially to ad hoc units outside the regular army structure, often units raised from semi- or non-Romanized peoples which retained their indigenous fighting techniques; thus in
Fire in the East
the titles of the units formed from mercenaries and local levies and commanded by the caravan protectors.
Oneiromanteia:
Greek term for telling the future by the interpretation of dreams.
Greek term for telling the future by the interpretation of dreams.
Oneiroskopos:
A ‘dream-scout’, one of the Greek names given to an interpreter of dreams.
A ‘dream-scout’, one of the Greek names given to an interpreter of dreams.
Optio:
Junior officer in the Roman army, ranked below a centurion.
Junior officer in the Roman army, ranked below a centurion.
Paideia:
Culture; Greeks considered it marked them off from the rest of the world, and the Greek elite considered it marked them off from the rest of the Greeks.
Culture; Greeks considered it marked them off from the rest of the world, and the Greek elite considered it marked them off from the rest of the Greeks.
Parexeiresia:
The outrigger of a
trireme
which allowed the upper level of oarsmen to row.
The outrigger of a
trireme
which allowed the upper level of oarsmen to row.
Parthians:
Rulers of the eastern empire centred on modern Iraq and Iran overthrown by the Sassanid Persians in the 2205 AD.
Rulers of the eastern empire centred on modern Iraq and Iran overthrown by the Sassanid Persians in the 2205 AD.
Paedagogus:
Schoolmaster.
Schoolmaster.
Pepaideumenos,
plural
pepaideumenoi:
Greek term for one of the highly educated or cultured.
plural
pepaideumenoi:
Greek term for one of the highly educated or cultured.
Peroz:
Victory (Persian).
Victory (Persian).
Pilus Prior:
The senior centurion in a Roman army unit.
The senior centurion in a Roman army unit.
Porta Aquaria:
The Water Gate; in this novel the eastern gate of the city of Arete.
The Water Gate; in this novel the eastern gate of the city of Arete.
Praefectus:
‘Prefect’, a flexible Latin title for many officials and officers, typically the commander of an auxiliary unit.
‘Prefect’, a flexible Latin title for many officials and officers, typically the commander of an auxiliary unit.
Praefectus
fabrum:
A Roman army officer, a general’s Chief of Engineers.
fabrum:
A Roman army officer, a general’s Chief of Engineers.
Praepositus:
Latin term for a commander; in this novel the title given to the caravan protectors as commanders of
numeri.
Latin term for a commander; in this novel the title given to the caravan protectors as commanders of
numeri.
Praetorian prefect:
The commander of the Praetorian Guard, an equestrian.
The commander of the Praetorian Guard, an equestrian.
Princeps peregrinorum:
The commander of the
frumentarii,
a senior centurion.
The commander of the
frumentarii,
a senior centurion.
Priricipatus:
(In English, the ‘principate’) Rule of the
Princeps,
the rule of the Roman
imperium
by the emperors.
(In English, the ‘principate’) Rule of the
Princeps,
the rule of the Roman
imperium
by the emperors.
Principia:
The headquarters building of a Roman army camp.
The headquarters building of a Roman army camp.
Procurator:
A Latin title for a range of officials, under the principate typically a financial officer of the emperors operating in the provinces.
A Latin title for a range of officials, under the principate typically a financial officer of the emperors operating in the provinces.
Provocator:
A type of gladiator.
A type of gladiator.
Pugio:
A Roman military dagger, one of the symbols which marked out a soldier.
A Roman military dagger, one of the symbols which marked out a soldier.
Retiarius:
A type of lightly equipped gladiator armed with a trident and net.
A type of lightly equipped gladiator armed with a trident and net.
Sassanids:
The Persian dynasty that overthrew the Parthians in the 220S AD and were Rome’s great eastern rivals until the seventh century AD.
The Persian dynasty that overthrew the Parthians in the 220S AD and were Rome’s great eastern rivals until the seventh century AD.
Senate:
The council of Rome, under the emperors composed of about 600 men, the vast majority ex-magistrates, with some imperial favourites. The senatorial order was the richest and most prestigious group in the empire, but suspicious emperors were beginning to exclude them from military commands in the mid-third century AD.
The council of Rome, under the emperors composed of about 600 men, the vast majority ex-magistrates, with some imperial favourites. The senatorial order was the richest and most prestigious group in the empire, but suspicious emperors were beginning to exclude them from military commands in the mid-third century AD.
Spatha:
A long Roman sword, the normal type of sword carried by all troops by the mid-third century AD.
A long Roman sword, the normal type of sword carried by all troops by the mid-third century AD.
Speculator:
A scout in the Roman army.
A scout in the Roman army.
Strategos:
General (Greek).
General (Greek).
Strigil:
A scraper used by bathers for scraping oil and dirt off their skin.
A scraper used by bathers for scraping oil and dirt off their skin.
Subura:
The district of Rome between the Esquiline and Viminal hills, a notorious slum.
The district of Rome between the Esquiline and Viminal hills, a notorious slum.
Synodiarch:
Greek term for a ‘caravan protector’, the unusual group of rich and powerful men historically known in Palmyra and in this novel in the city of Arete.
Greek term for a ‘caravan protector’, the unusual group of rich and powerful men historically known in Palmyra and in this novel in the city of Arete.
Tadmor:
The name for the city of Palmyra used by the locals.
The name for the city of Palmyra used by the locals.
Telones:
Customs official (Greek).
Customs official (Greek).
Tepidarium:
Warm room of a Roman bath.
Warm room of a Roman bath.
Testudo:
Literally, tortoise (Latin), by analogy both a Roman infantry formation with overlapping shields, similar to a northern ‘shieldburg’, and a mobile shed protecting a siege engine.
Literally, tortoise (Latin), by analogy both a Roman infantry formation with overlapping shields, similar to a northern ‘shieldburg’, and a mobile shed protecting a siege engine.
Touloutegon:
A Roman cavalry manoeuvre.
A Roman cavalry manoeuvre.
Tribunus laticlavius:
A young Roman of senatorial family doing military service as an officer in a legion; there was one per legion.
A young Roman of senatorial family doing military service as an officer in a legion; there was one per legion.
Trierarch:
The commander of a
trireme,
in the Roman forces equivalent in rank to a centurion.
The commander of a
trireme,
in the Roman forces equivalent in rank to a centurion.
Trireme:
An ancient warship, a galley rowed by about 200 men on three levels.
An ancient warship, a galley rowed by about 200 men on three levels.
Turma,
plural,
turmae:
A small sub unit of Roman cavalry, usually about 30 men strong.
plural,
turmae:
A small sub unit of Roman cavalry, usually about 30 men strong.
Venationes:
Beast hunts in the Roman arena.
Beast hunts in the Roman arena.
Vexillatio:
A sub unit of Roman troops detached from its parent unit.
A sub unit of Roman troops detached from its parent unit.
Vinae:
Literally Latin for vine trellises; name given to mobile covered siege shelters because of their shape.
Literally Latin for vine trellises; name given to mobile covered siege shelters because of their shape.
Vir egregius:
Knight of Rome, a man of the equestrian order.
Knight of Rome, a man of the equestrian order.
Xynema:
A Roman cavalry manoeuvre.
A Roman cavalry manoeuvre.
List of Emperors in the First Half of the Third Century AD
List of Characters
To avoid giving away any of the plot, characters usually are only described as first encountered in
Fire in the East.
Fire in the East.
Acilius Glabrio:
Marcus Acilius Glabrio,
Tribunus Laticlavius
of Legio IIII, commander of the detachment of the legion in Arete; a young patrician.
Marcus Acilius Glabrio,
Tribunus Laticlavius
of Legio IIII, commander of the detachment of the legion in Arete; a young patrician.
Alexander:
A nondescript councillor of Arete.
A nondescript councillor of Arete.
Anamu:
A
synodiarch
(caravan protector) and councillor of Arete.
A
synodiarch
(caravan protector) and councillor of Arete.
Antigonus:
A trooper in Cohors XX, selected to serve in the
equites singulares
of Ballista.
A trooper in Cohors XX, selected to serve in the
equites singulares
of Ballista.
Antoninus Prior:
Pilus Prior, First Centurion, of Cohors I of Legio IIII.
Pilus Prior, First Centurion, of Cohors I of Legio IIII.
Antoninus Posterior:
Centurion of Cohors II of Legio IIII.
Centurion of Cohors II of Legio IIII.
Ardashir:
King of Adiabene, son and vassal of Shapur.
King of Adiabene, son and vassal of Shapur.
Bagoas:
The ‘Persian Boy’, a slave purchased by Ballista on the island of Delos; he claims his name before enslavement was Hormizd.
The ‘Persian Boy’, a slave purchased by Ballista on the island of Delos; he claims his name before enslavement was Hormizd.
Ballista:
Marcus Clodius Ballista, originally named Dernhelm, son of Isangrim the
Dux,
warleader, of the Angles; a diplomatic hostage in the Roman empire, he has been granted Roman citizenship and equestrian status, having served in the Roman army in Africa, the far west and on the Danube. When the novel starts he has just been appointed
Dux Ripae.
Marcus Clodius Ballista, originally named Dernhelm, son of Isangrim the
Dux,
warleader, of the Angles; a diplomatic hostage in the Roman empire, he has been granted Roman citizenship and equestrian status, having served in the Roman army in Africa, the far west and on the Danube. When the novel starts he has just been appointed
Dux Ripae.
Bathshiba:
Daughter of Iarhai.
Daughter of Iarhai.
Bonitus:
A famous Roman siege engineer.
A famous Roman siege engineer.
Calgacus:
A Caledonian slave originally owned by Isangrim sent by him to serve as a body servant to his son Ballista in the Roman empire.
A Caledonian slave originally owned by Isangrim sent by him to serve as a body servant to his son Ballista in the Roman empire.
Callinicus of Petra:
A Greek sophist.
A Greek sophist.
Castricius:
A legionary in Legio IIII.
A legionary in Legio IIII.
Celsus:
A famous Roman siege engineer.
A famous Roman siege engineer.
Cocceius:
Titus Cocceius Malchiana, a
decurion
in command of the first
turma
of cavalry in Cohors XX.
Titus Cocceius Malchiana, a
decurion
in command of the first
turma
of cavalry in Cohors XX.
Demetrius:
The ‘Greek Boy’, a slave purchased by Julia to serve as her husband Ballista’s secretary.
The ‘Greek Boy’, a slave purchased by Julia to serve as her husband Ballista’s secretary.
Dinak:
Queen of Mesene, a daughter of Shapur.
Queen of Mesene, a daughter of Shapur.
Felix (1):
A centurion in Cohors XX.
A centurion in Cohors XX.
Felix (2):
An unlucky trooper in the
equites singulares
of Ballista.
An unlucky trooper in the
equites singulares
of Ballista.
Gallienus:
Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus, declared joint Roman emperor by his father, the emperor Valerian, in AD253.
Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus, declared joint Roman emperor by his father, the emperor Valerian, in AD253.
Haddudad:
A mercenary captain serving larhai.
A mercenary captain serving larhai.
Hamazasp:
King of Georgia, a vassal of Shapur.
King of Georgia, a vassal of Shapur.
Hannibal:
A nickname given to a
frumentarius
from North Africa serving as a scribe on the staff of Ballista.
A nickname given to a
frumentarius
from North Africa serving as a scribe on the staff of Ballista.
larhai:
A
synodiarch
(caravan protector) and councillor of Arete.
A
synodiarch
(caravan protector) and councillor of Arete.
Ingenuus:
A Roman general on the Danube.
A Roman general on the Danube.
lotapianus:
A pretender to the Roman throne in AD248-249, from Emesa.
A pretender to the Roman throne in AD248-249, from Emesa.
Isangrim:
Dux, warleader, of the Angles, father of Dernhelm/Ballista.
Dux, warleader, of the Angles, father of Dernhelm/Ballista.
Josephus:
A Christian mistaken for a philosopher.
A Christian mistaken for a philosopher.
Julia:
Wife of Ballista.
Wife of Ballista.
Karen:
A Parthian nobleman, the head of the house of Karen, a vassal of Shapur.
A Parthian nobleman, the head of the house of Karen, a vassal of Shapur.
Lucius Fabius:
Centurion of Cohors I of Legio IIII, stationed at the Porta Aquaria.
Centurion of Cohors I of Legio IIII, stationed at the Porta Aquaria.
Mamurra:
Praefectus Fabrum (chief of engineers) to Ballista.
Praefectus Fabrum (chief of engineers) to Ballista.
Mariades:
A member of the elite of Antioch who turned bandit before going over to the Sassanids.
A member of the elite of Antioch who turned bandit before going over to the Sassanids.
Maximinus Thrax:
Gaius Iulius Verus Maximinus, Roman emperor AD235- 23 8, known as ‘Thrax’ (‘The Thracian’) because of his lowly origins.
Gaius Iulius Verus Maximinus, Roman emperor AD235- 23 8, known as ‘Thrax’ (‘The Thracian’) because of his lowly origins.
Maximus:
Bodyguard to Ballista; originally a Hibernian warrior known as Muirtagh of the Long Road, sold to slave traders and trained as a boxer, then gladiator, before being purchased by Ballista.
Bodyguard to Ballista; originally a Hibernian warrior known as Muirtagh of the Long Road, sold to slave traders and trained as a boxer, then gladiator, before being purchased by Ballista.
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