Glossary 1211panegyric Laudatory written or oral poem.
pankration An event in ancient Greece that combined ele-
ments of boxing and wrestling.
pantheistic Relating to the worship of all gods.
pantheon Th e group of gods worshipped by a particular
culture.
papyrus A tall aquatic plant used mainly by the Egyptians
to make a writing material resembling paper.
parapegma A calendar that lists annual celestial events,
such as the rising and setting of specifi c stars or constel-
lations on given days of the year; a star calendar.
parrhesia In ancient Greece, frank or open speech, a cher-
ished Athenian principle.
passage tomb A tomb where the burial chamber is reached
through a low passage; secondary chambers may lead off
from the main chamber.
pastoral nomadism An economic lifestyle that revolves
around entire families or kin groups following domesti-
cated animals during yearly cycles.
pastoral poetry Poetry that presents an idealized portrait
of country life, oft en concerning the love between shep-
herds and shepherdesses.
pastoralism Th e breeding, tending, and exploitation of do-
mestic herd animals as a principal means of livelihood
for a community or society.
paterfamilias In ancient Rome, the male head of a house-
hold.
pathogen Any agent capable of causing disease.
patria potestas Th e legal authority (including the power of
life and death) of a Roman head of household over his
family (including slaves and other dependents).
patriarch A male head of a family.
patrician Th e upper social class of Rome, consisting of
those who held social, political, and economic power.
patrilineal Descent traced through the male ancestors.
patrilocal A residence pattern in which married couples
live with or near the husband’s family.
patronus A Roman of wealth and status who extended his
patronage and protection to one or more lower-status
clients.
pavimentum Concrete foundation of a Roman road.
Pax Romana Term used to describe the relative peace and
stability that the Romans imposed on their empire.
payment in kind Th e off ering of crops, animals, and tex-
tiles, and other goods instead of money to pay taxes or
a debt.
peat Partially carbonized plant matter, usually found in
bogs.
pectoral A breastplate or breast covering.
pederasty An erotic relationship common in Greek culture
between a youth (usually between the onset of puberty
and the full growth of the beard) and an adult man.
pediment Th e triangular section just below a sloped roof,
which may contain decorative or sculptural features.
peltast A Greek lightly armed infantry soldier.pemmican A mixture of dried meat, dried berries, and ren-
dered fat.
pentameter A poetic meter that has fi ve feet per line.
pentecontor A 50-oared ship, rowed by arranging 25 oars-
men on each side of a vessel.
peplos A loose gown worn over a tunic by the ancient
Greeks.
peret Th e “growing season,” one of three seasons in the
Egyptian calendar, based on the stages of the Nile’s
transformation.
perioikoi In ancient Greece, people from neighboring
towns, especially those subject to the people of Sparta.
periplous (or periplus; pl. periploi) In ancient Greece, a
narrative of discovery containing details of navigation,
such as ports and coastal landmarks.
peristyle An open area or courtyard surrounded by col-
umns.
permafrost Permanently frozen ground.
petasos A hat with a broad, fl oppy brim worn by the an-
cient Greeks.
petroglyph An image that is carved or pecked into a rock
surface with a hard stone or some other tool.
phalanx A rectangular formation of heavy infantry, densely
arrayed so that each man’s shield protected both himself
and his neighbor to his left.
pharmaceutical Having healing properties.
pharmacology Th e study of drugs, especially their eff ects.
phonetic Having to do with the sounds of languages.
phonogram Written symbol used to express a sound.
phratry A kinship group found in many Greek cities.
phyle (pl. phylae) One of the main divisions of the citizen
body in most ancient Greek cities; in ancient Athens the
10 phylae provided the organizational basis for many
government functions.
physis Greek word for “nature”; can refer to the overall state
of the physical body and its health and well-being.
pictograph Picture symbol representing by way of an illus-
tration a person, idea, object, activity, event, or place.
pietas A sense of duty, one of the Roman virtues.
pilaster A rectangular column that projects from a wall to
which it is attached.
pile weave Weaving that produces raised loops rather than
a fl at surface.
piles A beam of timber driven into the ground to be part of
a foundation for a building.
pilum (pl. pila) Th e standard missile weapon of the ancient
Roman legionnaire, similar to a javelin.
pips Small fruit seeds.
pit house An ancient form of dwelling consisting of a pit
excavated in the earth and roofed over.
pitch accent In language, the form of accentuation in which
the accented syllable does not receive additional empha-
sis (as in English) but instead is pronounced at a musical
pitch diff erent from the rest of the word.
pitched roof A two-sided, sloped roof.1195-1234_SocCultAnctWrld-v4_bm.1211 1211 10/10/07 3:30:38 PM