Read Ten for Dying (John the Lord Chamberlain Mysteries) Online
Authors: Mary Reed,Eric Mayer
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.
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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