Masters of Rome Boxset: First Man in Rome, the Grass Crown, Fortune's Favourites, Caesar's Women, Caesar

by Colleen McCullough

  Zeno The Greek who founded Stoic philosophy.

  PRONUNCIATION GUIDE TO ROMAN MASCULINE NAMES

  To some extent, the pronunciation of classical Latin is still debated, but there are definite conventions among scholars. Liturgical Latin and medieval Latin are pronounced somewhat differently than classical Latin. None of which need worry the reader unduly. The aim of this little section is simply to offer guidelines for those readers without Latin.

  One convention adhered to in pronouncing classical Latin is to sound the consonantal v like our English w: thus, the word veritas is properly pronounced weritas. But the rule is not hard and fast, even among scholars, so in the interests of reader comfort, I shall proceed to ignore it.

  The diphthong ae should not be pronounced as in “say,” but rather as in “eye”; this convention I have adhered to.

  We have several more consonants in English than the Latin language did. The one which concerns the reader most is j. It has been customary in the English language for centuries to spell those Latin words commencing in consonantal i with a j. Thus, Julius should really be lulius, and pronounced Yoo-lee-uss, not Joo-lee-uss. However, I have elected to go with English j.

  The Latin g has only one sound, which I shall call guh, as in “gain”—”get”—”give”—”gone”—”gun.” The other g sound in English, which I shall call juh, as in “ginger,” is never used in pronouncing Latin.

  Rather than adopt one of the current lexicographic systems of pronunciation, I have elected to use a phonetic system of my own, rhyming the Latin with some ordinary English word pronounced identically on both sides of the Atlantic as well as in the Antipodes—where possible!

  And, last but by no means least, none of it really matters save to the purist. The most important thing is that the reader discover and enjoy the world of Republican Rome. Do not feel uncomfortable with the names. Latin is a major root of the English language, and that is a major help in itself. (Note: in some cases I have given the standard English pronunciation first, and put the more correct pronunciation in parentheses, in the lists below.)

  The Praenomen (the First Name)

  Appius

  Ah-pee-uss (ah as in “pa,” “ma”—uss as in “puss”)

  Aulus

  Ow-luss (ow as in “cow”)

  Gaius

  Gye-uss (gye as in “eye”)

  Gnaeus

  Nye-uss (nye as in “eye”)

  Lucius

  Loo-shuss (more correctly, Loo-kee-uss)

  Mamercus

  Mah-mer-kuss (mah as in “pa”—mer as in “her”)

  Manius

  Mah-nee-uss (mah as in “pa”)

  Marcus

  Mar-kuss

  Publius

  Pub-lee-uss (pub has the same u sound as “put”)

  Quintus

  Kwin-tuss (kwin as in “twin”)

  Servius

  Ser-vee-uss (ser as in “her”)

  Sextus

  Sex-tuss (sex as in “sex”)

  Spurius

  Spoo-ree-uss (spoo as in “too”)

  Tiberius

  Tye-beer-ee-uss (more correctly, Tee-bear-ee-uss)

  Titus

  Tye-tuss (more correctly, Tee-tuss)

  The Nomen (the Family or Gentilicial Name, Indicating the Gens)

  Aelius

  Eye-lee-uss (eye as in “eye”—uss as in “puss”)

  Aemilius

  Eye-mil-ee-uss (mil as in “will”)

  Annius

  An-nee-uss (an as in “tan”)

  Antistius

  Ahn-tist-ee-uss (ahn as in “gone”—list as in “fist”)

  Antonius

  An-toh-nee-uss (an as in “tan”—toh as in “so”)

  Appuleius

  Ah-poo-lay-ee-uss (poo as in “too”—lay as in “say”)

  Aquillius

  Ah-kwill-ee-uss (kwill as in “will”)

  Atilius

  Ah-tee-lee-uss

  Aurelius

  Or-ree-lee-uss (more correctly, Ow-ray-lee-uss)

  Baebius

  Bye-bee-uss (bye as in “eye”)

  Billienus

  Bill-ee-ay-nuss (bill as in “will”—ay as in “say”)

  Caecilius

  Kye-kill-ee-uss (kye as in “eye”—kill as in “will”)

  Caelius

  Kye-lee-uss

  Calpurnius

  Kahl-purr-nee-uss (kahl as in “doll”)

  Cassius

  Kass-ee-uss (kass as in “lass”)

  Claudius

  Klaw-dee-uss (klaw as in “paw”)—the English way; Klow-dee-uss (klow as in “cow”)—the correct Latin way

  Clodius

  Kloh-dee-uss (kloh as in “so”)’

  Coelius

  Koy-lee-uss (koy as in “boy”)

  Cornelius

  Kor-nee-lee-uss (strictly, Kor-nay-lee-uss)

  Curtius

  Koor-tee-uss (koor as in “poor”)

  Decius

  Deck-ee-uss (deck as in “peck”)

  Decumius

  Deck-oo-mee-uss (oo as in “too”)

  Didius

  Did-ee-uss (did as in “bid”)

  Domitius

  Dom-it-ee-uss (dom as in “torn”—it as in “fit”)

  Equitius

  Ay-kwit-ee-uss (ay as in “say”—kwit as in “fit”)

  Fabius

  Fay-bee-uss (strictly, Fab-ee-uss, fab as in “cab”)

  Fabricius

  Fab-rick-ee-uss (fab as in “cab”—rick as in “kick”)

  Fannius

  Fan-nee-uss (fan as in “tan”)

  Flavius

  Flay-vee-uss (strictly, Flah-vee-uss)

  Fraucus

  Frow-kuss (frow as in “cow”)

  Fulvius

  Full-vee-uss (strictly, Fool-vee-uss)

  Furius

  Few-ree-uss (strictly, Foo-ree-uss)

  Gavius

  Gah-vee-uss (gah as in “pa”)

  Granius

  Grah-nee-uss (grah as in “pa”)

  Gratidius

  Grah-tid-ee-uss (tid as in “bid”)

  Herennius

  Her-en-ee-uss

  Hortensius

  Hor-ten-see-uss (hor as in “or”—ten as in “ten”)

  Julius

  Joo-lee-uss (joo as in “too”)

  Junius

  Joo-nee-uss

  Labienus

  Lab-ee-ay-nuss (lab as in “cab”—ay as in “say”)

  Licinius

  Lick-in-ee-uss (lick as in “kick”—in as in “sin”)

  Livius

  Liv-ee-uss (liv as in “spiv”)

  Lucilius

  Loo-kill-ee-uss

  Lusius

  Loo-see-uss

  Lutatius

  Loo-tah-tee-uss (tah as in “pa”)

  Macrinus

  Mah-kree-nuss (mah as in “pa”)

  Maelius

  Mye-lee-uss (mye as in “eye”)

  Magius

  Mah-gee-uss (the g as in “gear”)

  Mallius

  Mah-lee-uss

  Mamilius

  Mah-mill-ee-uss (mill as in “will”)

  Manlius

  Mahn-lee-uss

  Marcius

  Mar-shuss (more correctly, Mar-kee-uss)

  Marius

  Mah-ree-uss

  Matius

  Mat-ee-uss (mat as in “pat”)

  Memmius

  Mem-ee-uss (mem as in “them”)

  Minucius

  Min-oo-kee-uss (min as in “sin”—oo as in “too”)

  Mucius

  Mew-shuss (more correctly, Moo-kee-uss)

  Nonius

  Noh-nee-uss (noh as in “so”)

  Norbanus

  Nor-bah-nuss (nor as in “or”—bah as in “pa”)

  Octavius

  Ock-tay-vee-uss (more correctly, Ock-tah-vee-uss)

  Opimius

  Oh-pee-mee-uss
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br />   Oppius

  Op-ee-uss (op as in “top”)

  Papirius

  Pah-pee-ree-uss

  Perquitienus

  Pair-kwit-ee-ay-nuss (pair as in “air”)

  Petreius

  Pet-ray-uss (pet as in “yet”)

  Plautius

  Plow-tee-uss (plow as in “cow”)

  Plotius

  Ploh-tee-uss (ploh as in “so”)

  Pompeius

  Pom-pay-ee-uss (pom as in “torn”—-pay as in “say”)

  Pomponius

  Pom-poh-nee-uss (poh as in “so”)

  Popillius

  Pop-ill-ee-uss (pop as in “top”—ill as in “will”)

  Poppaedius

  Pop-eye-dee-uss (pop as in “top”)

  Porcius

  Por-shuss (more correctly, Por-kee-uss)

  Postumius

  Poh-stoo-mee-uss (poh as in “so”—stoo as in “too”)

  Rutilius

  Roo-tee-lee-uss

  Saufeius

  Sow-fay-ee-uss (sow as in “cow”—fay as in “say”)

  Sempronius

  Sem-proh-nee-uss (sem as in “hem”—proh as in “so”)

  Sergius

  Sair-gee-uss (sair as in “air”—the g as in “gear”)

  Sertorius

  Sair-tor-ee-uss (tor as in “or”)

  Servilius

  Sair-vee-lee-uss

  Siccius

  Sick-ee-uss (sick as in “kick”)

  Sosius

  Soh-see-uss (soh as in “so”)

  Sulpicius

  Sool-pick-ee-uss (sool as in “fool”—pick as in “kick”)

  Terentius

  Tair-en-tee-uss (fair as in “air”—en as in “ten”)

  Thorius

  Thor-ee-uss (thor as in “or”)

  Titius

  Tit-ee-uss (tit as in “fit”)

  Tullius

  Too-lee-uss

  Turpilius

  Tur-pill-ee-uss (tur as in “fur”—pill as in “will”)

  Vagiennius

  Vah-gee-en-ee-uss (the g as in “gear”)

  Vettius

  Vet-ee-uss (vet as in “yet”)

  The Cognomen (the Last Name, Surname, or Distinguishing Name)

  These names had definite meanings, so I shall give the meanings where we know them, as well as a guide to pronunciation.

  Africanus

  Ah-frick-ah-nuss “of Africa”

  Agelastus

  Ah-gel-ah-stuss “never smiles” (the g as in “get”)

  Ahala

  Ah-hah-lah unknown

  Ahenobarbus

  Ah-hay-noh-barb-uss “red-or bronze bearded”

  Albinus

  Ahl-bee-nuss “whitish”

  Augur

  Ow-goor (goor as in “good”) “an augur”

  Balearicus

  Bah-lay-ah-rick-uss “of the Balearic Isles”

  Bambalio

  Bahm-bah-lee-oh unknown

  Bestia

  Best-ee-ah (best as in “rest”) “the beast”

  Brocchus

  Broh-kuss “buck-toothed”

  Brutus

  Broo-tuss “animal stupidity

  Caecus

  Kye-kuss “blind”

  Caepio

  Kye-pee-oh “the onion vendor”

  Caesar

  See-zar (Latin, Kye-sar) “a fine head of hair

  Caesoninus

  Kye-soh-nee-nuss unknown

  Caldus

  Kahl-duss “lukewarm”

  Calvus

  Kahl-vuss “bald”

  Camillus

  Kah-mill-uss unknown

  Caprarius

  Kah-prah-ree-uss “billy goat”

  Carbo

  Kar-boh “burned out” or “cinder”

  Cato

  Kay-toh (Latin, Kah-toh) “shrewd but up-tight

  Catulus

  Kah-too-luss “pup” or “cub”

  Cicero

  Siss-er-oh (Latin, Kick-er-oh) “chick-pea”

  Cotta

  Kot-tah (kot as in “pot”) “wine splash”(?)

  Crassus

  Krass-uss (krass as in “ass”) “thick”

  Cunctator

  Koonk-tah-tor “he who holds back”

  Dalmaticus

  Dahl-mah-tee-kuss “of Dalmatia”

  Dentatus

  Den-tah-tuss (den as in “ten”) “born with teeth”

  Diadematus

  Dee-ah-dem-ah-tuss “of a royal head-band

  Dives

  Dee-vays “the heavenly one”

  Drusus

  Droo-suss (droo as in “too”) unknown

  Eburnus

  Ay-boor-nuss “made of ivory”

  Fimbria

  Fim-bree-ah (fim as in “Him”) “hair worn in a fringe”

  Flaccus

  Flah-kuss “big ears”

  Galba

  Gahl-bah “potbelly”

  Getha

  Gay-thah “from the ends of the earth”

  Glaucia

  Glow-kee-ah (glow as in “cow”) “grey-green”

  Gracchus

  Grah-kuss “jackdaw”(?)

  Laenas

  Lye-nahss (sibilant ending “priestly mantle”

  Lentulus

  Len-too-luss (len as in “ten” “tardy” or “slow”

  Lepidus

  Lep-id-uss (lep as in “step”) “a wonderful fellow”

  Limetanus

  Lim-ay-tah-nuss (lim as in “dim”) “of a boundary”

  Longinus

  Long-gee-nuss (the g as in “get”) “in the far distance

  Lucullus

  Loo-kull-uss (kull as in “pull”) “a little grove of trees”

  Macedonicus

  Mahn-ked-on-ee-kuss “of Macedonia’’

  Mactator

  Mahk-tah-tor “slaughterman”

  Magnus

  Mahg-nuss “great”

  Mancinus

  Mahn-kee-nuss “of a cripple”

  Margarita

  Mar-gah-ree-tah “pearl”

  Maximus

  Mahx-ee-muss “greatest”

  Meminius

  Mem-in-ee-uss (mem as in “hem”) “of the Gallic Meminii” “hem”)

  Merula

  Me-roo-lah (me as in “met”) “blackbird”

  Metellus

  Met-ell-uss (met as in “get”) “a liberated mercenary”

  Mus

  Moos “rat” or “mouse”

  Nasica

  Nah-see-kah “nosy”

  Nerva

  Nair-vah (nair as in “air”) “stringy” or “tough”

  Numidicus

  Noo-mid-ee-kuss (mid as in “bid”) “of Numidia”

  Orator

  Oh-rah-tor “the public speaker’’

  Orestes

  Oh-rest-ays (rest as in “nest”) “mother died in birth”

  Paullus

  Pow-luss (pow as “cow”) “wee one” or “trifle”

  Philippus

  Fill-ip-uss (fill as in “will”) “of Philippi”

  Pipinna

  Pip-in-ah (pip as in “hip) “little boy’s penis”

  Piso

  Pee-soh “I grind down”

  Porcella

  Por-kell-ah “piglet” or “little girl’s genitals”

  Postumus

  Poss-too-muss (poss as in “boss”) “born after father died”

  Pulcher

  Pool-ker “beautiful”

  Ravilla

  Rah-vill-ah (vill as in “will”) “talked himself hoarse”