12-07-2005, 12:15 PM
Cheers Lucia- Really hope you like the book, thanks for the kind comments, I'll let Susanna know.
Libintinarii-
Well it's Susanna's field more than mine (so she'll flay me alive if I get it wrong) I think it's most likely from Libitina - in Roman religion, goddess of funerals. Coins were deposited at her sanctuary/shrine/grove whenever a death occurred.
The term (libitinarii) probably started as a general one for undertakers who had offices in Rome and probably most larger towns, and there deaths were registered for the purposes of statistics.
The word Libitina probably came to be used for the business of burials/funerals and indeed the disposal/removal of bodies in the arena. The association with the Porta Libitinenses (hope I spelt that right) is clear - but if you have further questions do contact Susanna through our website
- www.durolitum.co.uk
P.S. This subject came up in conversation with some of the Ludus chaps -www.ludus.org.uk
- at a BM job last year, so they have probably researched this subject extensively too.
Libintinarii-
Well it's Susanna's field more than mine (so she'll flay me alive if I get it wrong) I think it's most likely from Libitina - in Roman religion, goddess of funerals. Coins were deposited at her sanctuary/shrine/grove whenever a death occurred.
The term (libitinarii) probably started as a general one for undertakers who had offices in Rome and probably most larger towns, and there deaths were registered for the purposes of statistics.
The word Libitina probably came to be used for the business of burials/funerals and indeed the disposal/removal of bodies in the arena. The association with the Porta Libitinenses (hope I spelt that right) is clear - but if you have further questions do contact Susanna through our website
- www.durolitum.co.uk
P.S. This subject came up in conversation with some of the Ludus chaps -www.ludus.org.uk
- at a BM job last year, so they have probably researched this subject extensively too.
