Ancient Greek and Roman Names Information

Ancient Greek and Roman Names Information When you think of ancient names, do you think of Romans with multiple names like Gaius Julius Caesar, but of Greeks with single names like Plato, Aristotle, or Pericles? There is a good reason for that. It is thought that most Indo-Europeans had single names, with no idea of an inheritable family name. The Romans were exceptional. Ancient Greek Names In literature, ancient Greeks are usually identified by only one name whether male (e.g., Socrates) or female (e.g., Thais). In Athens, it became mandatory in 403/2 B.C. to use the demotic (the name of their deme [See Cleisthenes and the 10 Tribes]) in addition to the regular name on official records. It was also common to use an adjective to show place of origin when abroad. In English, we see this in such names as Solon of Athens or Aspasia of Miletus. Roman Republic During the Republic, literary references to upper-class men would include the praenomen and either the cognomen or the nomen (gentilicum) (or both making the tria nomina). The cognomen, like the nomen was usually hereditary. This meant there could be two family names to inherit. The statesman M. Tullius Cicero is now referred to by his cognomen Cicero. Ciceros nomen was Tullius. His praenomen was Marcus, which would be abbreviated M. The choice, while not officially limited, tended to be among only 17 different praenomina. Ciceros brother was Qunitus Tullius Cicero or Q. Tullius Cicero; their cousin, Lucius Tullius Cicero. Salway argues the three name or tria nomina of the Romans is not necessarily the typical Roman name  but is typical of the best-documented class in one of the best documented periods of Roman history (Republic to early Empire). Much earlier, Romulus was known by a single name and there was a period of two names. Roman Empire By the first century B.C. women and the lower classes began to have cognomina (pl. cognomen). These were not inherited names, but personal ones, which began to take the place of the praenomina (pl. praenomen). These might come from ​a  part of the womans fathers or mothers name. By the 3rd century A.D., the praenomen was abandoned. The basic name became the nomen cognomen. Alexander Severus wifes name was Gnaea Seia Herennia Sallustia Barbia Orbiana. (See J.P.V.D. Balsdon, Roman Women: Their History and Habits; 1962.) Additional Names There were two other categories of names that might be used, especially on funerary inscriptions (see accompanying illustrations of an epitaph and a monument to Titus), following the praenomen and nomen. These were the names of filiation and of a  tribe. Filiation Names A man might be known by his father and even his grandfathers names. These would follow the nomen and be abbreviated. The name of M. Tullius Cicero could be written as M. Tullius M. f. Cicero showing that his father was also named Marcus. The f stands for filius (son). A freedman would use an l for libertus (freedman) instead of an f. Tribal Names After the filiation name, the tribal name could be included. The tribe or tribus was the voting district. This tribal name would be abbreviated by its first the letters. The full name of Cicero, from the tribe of Cornelia, would, therefore, be M. Tullius M. f. Cor. Cicero. References Whats in a Name? A Survey of Roman Onomastic Practice from c. 700 B.C. to A.D. 700, by Benet Salway; The Journal of Roman Studies, (1994), pp. 124-145.Names and Identities: Onomastics and Prosopography, by Olli Salomies, Epigraphic Evidence, edited by John Bodel.

Classical and Romantic Operas essays

Classical and Romantic Operas essays W. A. Mozart - Zauberflote and C. M. von Weber - Der Freisschuetz W. A. Mozart - Zauberflote Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in 1756 in Salzburg (Austria), and died in 1791 in Vienna (Austria). He was one of the first composers in Classical Era who showed new ideas in music writing. He used brighter tone, and heroic style of music, lyrical parts become brighter, but not without dramatic sketch. W. A. Mozart got his music education from his father, who was violinist and conductor. Mozart showed right away that he has all talent to become a great musician. At age six years old he was already famous in Europe. He had great technique in his playing, and a couple years later he showed his talent in his compositions. He wrote a lot of compositions, 23 of them for different solo instruments with orchestra, 49 symphonies, and more then 40 solo concertos with orchestra, sonatas for piano, violin and string ensembles. But besides all that, he spent a lot of time writing operas. He wrote his first opera at age 12 years old: in 1768 he wrote La Finta Semplice and Bastien und Bastienne1. He lived in Italy during 1769-1772, and during this time his operas were on stage in theaters, such as Mitridate re di Ponto (1770)1, and Lucio Silla(1772)1. He was very famous for his operas, especially in his small town, where life was not that easy. In 1775 he was in Munich (Germany), where I domen eo Re di Creta (1781)1 was first preformed, which brought big success to W. A. Mozart. His last ten years were the most successful years in his works. He was poor but kept on writing more and more works. He moved to Vienna and wrote The Abduction from the Seraglio(1782)1, Le Nozze di Figaro (1786)2 and Don Giovanni (1787)1 - showed very strong characteristics, true human feelings and reality. His last opera was Zauberflot...