Ten for Dying (John the Lord Chamberlain Mysteries) (26 page)

Afterword

According to the fifth-century Euthymian History attributed to Cyril of Scythopolis, the Virgin’s shroud was transferred in the mid-400s from the Holy Land to the Church of the Virgin in Blachernae in Constantinople. Procopius’ On Buildings, written in praise of Justinian’s public works, refers to it as the Virgin’s robe, but we have taken advantage of our literary license to follow Cyril’s statement.

Glossary

ATRIUM

Central area of a Roman house, open to the sky, provided light to rooms opening from it, and held an IMPLUVIUM, a shallow pool under the roof opening to catch rainwater for household use.

BLUES

See FACTIONS.

CITY PREFECT

High-ranking urban official whose duties included keeping public order.

CONCRETE

Roman concrete consisted of lime, volcanic ash, and pieces of rock.

CURSE TABLETS

Rolled-up sheets of thin lead inscribed with vindictive magickal imprecations, believed to cause harm to those named in them.

ECHO

In Greek mythology, a nymph who pined away until only her voice remained.

EXCUBITORS

GREAT PALACE guards.

FACTIONS

Supporters of either the BLUES or the GREENS, taking their names from the racing colors of the faction they favored; great rivals with their own seating sections at the Hippodrome; and the common brawls between them occasionally escalated into city-wide riots.

GREAT CHURCH

Colloquial name for the Church of the Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia).

GREAT PALACE

Located in southeastern Constantinople, not one building but many, set amid trees and gardens with barracks for the EXCUBITORS, ceremonial rooms, meeting halls, the imperial family’s living quarters, churches, and housing for court officials, ambassadors, and various other dignitaries.

GREENS

See FACTIONS.

HALL OF THE NINETEEN COUCHES

Located on the grounds of the GREAT PALACE, the hall for ceremonial banquets.

IMPLUVIUM

See ATRIUM.

KNUCKLEBONES

Popular pastime resembling a game of dice.

MESE

Main thoroughfare of Constantinople, enriched with columns, arches, statuary depicting secular, military, imperial, and religious subjects, fountains, religious establishments, monuments, emporiums, public baths, and private dwellings—a perfect mirror of the heavily populated and densely built city it traversed.

MITHRA

Sun god who slew the Great Bull, from whose body all animal and vegetable life sprang; usually depicted wearing a tunic and Phrygian cap, his cloak flying out behind him, in the act of slaying the Great Bull. He was also known as Mithras. His worship spread throughout the Roman empire via followers in various branches of the military.

SILENTIARY

Court official whose duties were similar to those of an usher.

TESSERAE

Small cubes, usually of stone or glass, used to create mosaics.

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