Five for Silver: A John, the Lord Chamberlain Mystery (25 page)

MIMES
After the second century CE mime supplanted classical Roman pantomime in popularity. Unlike performers of pantomime, mimes spoke and did not wear masks. Their presentations featured extreme violence and graphic licentiousness and were strongly condemned by the Christian church.

MITHRA
Persian sun god. Born in a cave or from a rock, he slew the GREAT BULL, from whose blood all animal and vegetable life sprang. Mithra is usually depicted wearing a tunic and Phrygian cap, his cloak flying out behind him, and in the act of slaying the GREAT BULL. He was also known as Mithras.

MITHRAEUM
Underground place of worship dedicated to MITHRA. They have been found on sites as far apart as northern England and what is now the Holy Land.

MITHRAISM
Of Persian origin, Mithraism spread throughout the Roman empire via its followers in various branches of the military. It became one of the most popular religions before being superseded by Christianity. Mithrans were required to practice chastity, obedience, and loyalty. Women were excluded from Mithraism. Some parallels have been drawn between this religion and Christianity because of shared practices such as baptism and a belief in resurrection as well as the fact that Mithra, in common with many sun gods, was said to have been born on December 25th. Mithrans advanced within their religion through seven degrees. In ascending order, these were Corax (Raven), Nymphus (Male Bride), Miles (Soldier), Leo (Lion), Peres (Persian), Heliodromus (Runner of the Sun), and Pater (Father).

NICARCHUS (known 1st century)
Greek EPIGRAMMIST. Over 40 of his epigrams are extant, many of them lampooning physicians.

NOMISMATA (singular: NOMISMA)
Gold coin at time of JUSTINIAN I.

NUMMI (singular: NUMMUS)
See NUMMUS.

NUMMUS (plural: NUMMI)
Smallest copper coin during the early Byzantine period.

PATRIARCH
Head of a diocese or patriarchate. The ancient patriarchates were those of Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem.

PLAGUE
Writings by Procopius (known 6th century) and John of Ephesus (c 505–c 585) provide vivid eyewitness accounts of the Justinianic plague. It appears to have broken out in Egypt or central Africa and, spreading along trade routes, arrived in Constantinople in the spring of 542. Sufferers generally died within three days of the onset of symptoms, which included hallucinations, fever, anxiety, chills, and swellings in the armpits, groin, or beside the ears. Some patients lived only a few hours after infection. In many cases, victims’ bodies became covered with black blisters. In Constantinople up to 10,000 people died each day, so that by the time the plague departed the population of the city had been reduced by 40 per cent.

ROMANOS MELODOS (known 6th century)
Hymn-writer and saint, Romanos Melodos (The Melodist) composed over a thousand works, whose subjects included sacred festivals and saints’ lives. About 60 have survived, including Today the Virgin Gives Birth and THOUGH THOU DIDST DESCEND INTO THE TOMB. Medical metaphors used by CHRIST THE PHYSICIAN appear in Romanos’ composition on the Passion. Born in Syria, Romanos Melodos is thought to have lived in Constantinople from 515 to 556.

SAMSUN’S HOSPICE
Founded by St Samsun (d 530), a physician and priest. Also known as Sampson or Samson the Hospitable, he is referred to as the Father of the Poor because of his work among the destitute. His hospice was near the GREAT CHURCH.

STRATEGION
Forum in north Constantinople, close to the Golden Horn.

STYLITES
Holy men who often spent years living atop columns. Also known as pillar saints, from
stylos
, pillar.

TESSERAE (Singular: tessera)
Small cubes of stone or glass used in the creation of mosaics.

THANATOS
Personification of death in Greek mythology.

THEODORA (c 497–548)
Influential and powerful wife of JUSTINIAN I. It has been alleged she had formerly been an actress and a prostitute. When the Nika riots broke out in Constantinople in 532, she is said to have urged her husband to remain in the city, thus saving his throne.

THOUGH THOU DIDST DESCEND INTO THE TOMB
See ROMANOS MELODOS.

ZEUS APOMYIOS
According to Greek mythology, Hercules was tormented by flies while performing a religious rite. He therefore sacrificed to Zeus Apomyios (loosely, averter of, or protector from, flies) and the swarm immediately departed.

ZEUXIPPOS
Thracian deity whose name combined Zeus and Hippos (horse).

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