Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Peter Chrysologus, Saint, c.380–450, bishop of Ravenna, Doctor of the Church. Ordained by Cornelius, bishop of Imola, he lived as a monk for several years before being named bishop by Pope Sixtus II...

(Encyclopedia) Symmachus, Quintus Aurelius sĭmˈəkəs [key], c.345–c.405, Roman government official and orator. Educated in Gaul, he held several official positions, including the consulship in 391. He is best k...

(Encyclopedia) Laelius, Caius kāˈəs lēˈlēəs [key], d. c.160 b.c., Roman general, consul in 190 b.c. He was the intimate friend and companion of Scipio Africanus Major from youth, and he held command under him...

(Encyclopedia) Roman Empire: see Rome; Byzantine Empire; Holy Roman Empire. ...

(Encyclopedia) Crassus krăsˈəs [key], ancient Roman family, of the plebeian Licinian gens. It produced men who achieved great note in the 2d cent. and 1st cent. b.c. One of the well-known members was Lucius Licin...

(Encyclopedia) Roman law, the legal system of Rome from the supposed founding of the city in 753 b.c. to the fall of the Byzantine Empire in a.d. 1453; it was later adopted as the basis of modern civil law. Most aut...

(Encyclopedia) senate, Roman, governing council of the Roman republic. It was the outgrowth of the council of the kings. By the 3d cent. b.c. the senate was a group of 300 men with a high degree of political, legisl...

(Encyclopedia) Roman literature: see Latin literature. ...

(Encyclopedia) Roman Question: see Lateran Treaty. ...

(Encyclopedia) Roman roads, ancient system of highways linking Rome with its provinces. Their primary purpose was military, but they also were of great commercial importance and brought the distant provinces in touc...