Glossary 1197automata Devices that use hidden mechanical forces
(steam, water, pulleys) to move objects in such a way that
they appear to be moving of their own accord.
auxilia Mercenaries hired by Rome to serve in its legions
and protect its frontiers.
avatar A physical form, human or otherwise, taken on by
a deity.
axis mundi Center of the world.
axone A wooden table or roller used to record ancient
Greek writings
ayurveda A system of med ici ne used i n Ind ia t hat emphasi zes
diet as a means of correcting imbalances within the body.
azimuth Th e angle measured from north, eastward along
the horizon to the point where a vertical circle through a
celestial object intersects the horizon.
ba For Egyptians, the soul.
band Th e simplest form of political and social group, con-
sisting of members (from eight to 100, though typically
less than 30).
bandolier A fl at band worn over the shoulder and across
the chest, oft en as offi cial or ceremonial dress.
barbaros (pl. barbaroi) A word used by the ancient Greeeks
to describe a foreigner—specifi cally one who did not un-
derstand the Greek language; oft en used with reference
to someone rude or rough.
bard A tribal poet-singer who gave recitation performances
of ancient tales and epics.
barrel vault Solid, semicircular ceiling supported and
framed by horizontal arches that rise from piers along
the walls.
barter economy Trading goods for each other without the
use of money.
basalt Gray-black volcanic rock.
basileus (pl. basileis) A king in ancient Greece, though one
who typically enjoyed limited powers.
basilica A large Roman meeting hall for commerce.
bas-relief A technique of decorative sculpture in which the
artist carves away unwanted material and allows the ele-
ments of a scene to emerge from a fl at background.
bast fi bers Th e outer stems of certain types of plants, in-
cluding jute and fl ax, that can be extracted and used in
textile production.
beasts of burden Animals that transport burdens such as
goods or people.
benben In Egyptian cosmology, the fi rst place the sun fell
on earth when it emerged from the primordial waters
and possibly the name of the mound itself.
benu bird A heronlike bird associated with the sun in
Egyptian mythology.
berm A mound of earth.
berserk A warrior who fought, oft en naked, in an ecstatic
state.
beveled Cut at a slant such that two surfaces do not form a
right angle.bident A two-pronged spear.
bipod mast A mast that is forked into two projections at
the base.
bireme A ship with two banks of oars.
birrus A woolen hood.
bitumen A substance derived from oil deposits that was
used in the waterproofi ng of porous material.
black-fi gure pottery Pottery painting in which black fi g-
ures are placed on a red background.
blank A coin-shaped piece of metal without a stamp indi-
cating its value and place of origin.
bodhisattva A person who can ascend to oneness with God
but who chooses to put off salvation in order to help oth-
er human beings reach nirvana.
bolas Stones connected by cords, thrown to entangle and
fell prey or an enemy.
boule A Greek city council elected by the citizens to serve
as a lawmaking or advisory body.
breechcloth Sometimes called a “breechclout,” a strip of
cloth that hangs between the legs from a waistband.
bride-price Money or property given to a bride’s family by
the prospective groom.
brine Seawater that was commonly heated and evaporated,
leaving behind salt for seasoning and preserving food.
broad-cella A central hall or room designed to be accessed
through a maze of halls.
brocade Fabric with raised patterns.
brochs Circular stone fortifi cations in ancient Scotland.
bronze An alloy of copper and tin, with tin added to
strengthen copper.
brooch A large, decorative pin or clasp.
buckler A small, round shield held by a handle at arm’s length.
bucolic Relating to the countryside.
bulla (pl. bullae) In the ancient Near East, a spherical clay
container into which were placed tokens to record quan-
tity of goods held in storage.
burial goods Objects that are placed in or around a grave to
either protect or serve the dead person.
burnishing Th e rubbing of the walls of a vessel with a
smooth stone or similar implement, creating a smooth
fi nish and making the vessel less permeable to liquids.
burnoose A one-piece hooded cloak.
butt joint Th e ends of two pieces of wood placed at a 90-
degree angle and held together with pegs or tied together
with leather threaded through drilled holes.
buttress A projection from a wall that prevents a wall’s col-
lapse, either under its own weight or under the weight of
a roof.
byre A stable for cattle.
caber A pole or a young tree trunk used for tossing as a test
of strength.
cacao Beans used to make chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa but-
ter; in the Americas in ancient times, they were used as
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