The Tyrant’s Tomb by Rick Riordan
ab urbe conditaLatin for from the founding of the city. For a time, Romans used the acronym AUC to mark the years since the founding of Rome.
Achillesa Greek hero of the Trojan War; a nearly invulnerable warrior who slayed the Trojan hero Hector outside the walls of Troy and then dragged his corpse behind his chariot
Aphroditethe Greek goddess of love and beauty. Roman form: Venus
Aresthe Greek god of war; the son of Zeus and Hera, and half brother to Athena. Roman form: Mars
ArgentumLatin for silver; the name of one of Reyna’s two automaton greyhounds that can detect lying
Argo IIa flying trireme built by the Hephaestus cabin at Camp Half-Blood to take the demigods of the Prophecy of Seven to Greece
Artemisthe Greek goddess of the hunt and the moon; the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and the twin of Apollo. Roman form: Diana
Asclepiusthe god of medicine; son of Apollo; his temple was the healing center of ancient Greece
Athenathe Greek goddess of wisdom. Roman form: Minerva
aura(aurae, pl.) wind spirit
AurumLatin for gold; the name of one of Reyna’s two automaton greyhounds that can detect lying
aveLatin for hail, a Roman greeting
Bacchusthe Roman god of wine and revelry; son of Jupiter. Greek form: Dionysus
ballista(ballistae, pl.) a Roman missile siege weapon that launches a large projectile at a distant target
Bellonaa Roman goddess of war; daughter of Jupiter and Juno
Benito Mussolinian Italian politician who became the leader of the National Fascist Party, a paramilitary organization. He ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943, first as a prime minister and then as a dictator.
blemmyaea tribe of headless people with faces in their chests
Britomartisthe Greek goddess of hunting and fishing nets; her sacred animal is the griffin
Burning Mazea magical, puzzle-filled underground labyrinth in Southern California controlled by the Roman emperor Caligula and Medea, a Greek sorceress
cacasecadried poop
Caldecott Tunnela four-lane highway that cuts through the Berkeley Hills and connects Oakland and Orinda, California. It contains a secret middle tunnel, guarded by Roman soldiers, that leads to Camp Jupiter.
Caligulathe nickname of the third of Rome’s emperors, Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, infamous for his cruelty and carnage during the four years he ruled, from 37 to 41 CE; he was assassinated by his own guard
Camp Half-Bloodthe training ground for Greek demigods, located in Long Island, New York
Camp Jupiterthe training ground for Roman demigods, located in California, between the Oakland Hills and the Berkeley Hills
Celestial bronzea powerful magical metal used to create weapons wielded by Greek gods and their demigod children
centurionan officer in the Roman army
charmspeaka rare type of hypnotism power that chosen children of Aphrodite possess
Ciceroa Roman statesman who was renowned for his public speeches
Circus Maximusa stadium designed for horse and chariot racing
cloaca maximaLatin for greatest sewer
clunisLatin for buttocks
cohortgroups of legionnaires
Colosseuman elliptical amphitheater built for gladiator fights, monster simulations, and mock naval battles
CommodusLucius Aurelius Commodus was the son of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius; he became co-emperor when he was sixteen and emperor at eighteen, when his father died; he ruled from 177 to 192 CE and was megalomaniacal and corrupt; he considered himself the New Hercules and enjoyed killing animals and fighting gladiators at the Colosseum
Cumaean Sibylan Oracle of Apollo from Cumae who collected her prophetic instructions for averting disaster in nine volumes but destroyed six of them when trying to sell them to Tarquinius Superbus of Rome
Cyclops(Cyclopes, pl.) a member of a primordial race of giants, each with a single eye in the middle of his or her forehead
cynocephalus(cynocephali, pl.) a being with a human body and a dog’s head
Dantean Italian poet of the late Middle Ages who invented terza rima; author of The Divine Comedy, among other works
Daphnea beautiful naiad who attracted Apollo’s attention; she transformed into a laurel tree in order to escape him
decimationthe ancient Roman punishment for bad legions in which every tenth soldier was killed whether they were guilty or innocent
Delosa Greek island in the Aegean Sea near Mykonos; birthplace of Apollo
Demeterthe Greek goddess of agriculture; a daughter of the Titans Rhea and Kronos. Roman form: Ceres
denarius(denarii, pl.) a unit of Roman currency
Dianathe Roman goddess of the hunt and the moon; the daughter of Jupiter and Leto, and the twin of Apollo. Greek form: Artemis
DionysusGreek god of wine and revelry; the son of Zeus. Roman form: Bacchus
dryada spirit (usually female) associated with a certain tree
Eagle of the Twelfththe standard of Camp Jupiter, a gold icon of an eagle on top of a pole, symbolizing the god Jupiter
Earthborna race of six-armed giants, also called Gegenes
Elysiumthe paradise to which Greek heroes are sent when the gods grant them immortality
Erythraean Sibyla prophetess who presided over Apollo’s Oracle at Erythrae in Ionia
eurynomos(eurynomoi, pl.) a corpse-eating ghoul that lives in the Underworld and is controlled by Hades; the slightest cut from their claws causes a wasting disease in mortals, and when their victims die, they rise again as vrykolakai, or zombies. If a eurynomos manages to devour the flesh of a corpse down to the bones, the skeleton will become a fierce undead warrior, many of whom serve as Hades’s elite palace guards.
Euterpethe Greek goddess of lyric poetry; one of the Nine Muses; daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne
fascesa ceremonial ax wrapped in a bundle of thick wooden rods with its crescent-shaped blade projecting outward; the ultimate symbol of authority in ancient Rome; origin of the word fascism
Fatesthree female personifications of destiny. They control the thread of life for every living thing from birth to death.
fauna Roman forest god, part goat and part man
Faunusthe Roman god of the Wild. Greek form: Pan
Field of Marspart battlefield, part party zone, the place where drills and war games are held at Camp Jupiter
First Titan Waralso known as the Titanomachy, the eleven-year conflict between the Titans from Mount Othrys and the younger gods, whose future home would be Mount Olympus
Forumthe center of life in New Rome; a plaza with statues and fountains that is lined with shops and nighttime entertainment venues
fuerteSpanish for strong
fulminataarmed with lightning; a Roman legion under Julius Caesar whose emblem was a lightning bolt (fulmen)
Gaeathe Greek earth goddess; wife of Ouranos; mother of the Titans, giants, Cyclopes, and other monsters
Gamelionthe seventh month of the Attic or Athenian calendar that was used in Attica, Greece, at one time; roughly equivalent to January/February on the Gregorian calendar
Germanibodyguards for the Roman Empire from the Gaulish and Germanic tribes
Greek firea magical, highly explosive, viscous green liquid used as a weapon; one of the most dangerous substances on earth
Grove of Dodonathe site of the oldest Greek Oracle, second only to Delphi in importance; the rustling of trees in the grove provided answers to priests and priestesses who journeyed to the site. The grove is located in Camp Half-Blood Forest and accessible only through the myrmekes’ lair.
Hadesthe Greek god of death and riches; ruler of the Underworld. Roman form: Pluto
Harpocratesthe Ptolemaic god of silence and secrets, a Greek adaptation of Harpa-Khruti, Horus the Child, who was often depicted in art and statuary with his finger held up to his lips, a gesture symbolizing childhood
harpya winged female creature that snatches things
Hecatethe goddess of magic and crossroads
Hectora Trojan champion who was ultimately slain by the Greek warrior Achilles and then dragged by the heels behind Achilles’s chariot
Heliosthe Titan god of the sun; son of the Titan Hyperion and the Titaness Theia
Hephaestusthe Greek god of fire, including volcanic, and of crafts and blacksmithing; the son of Zeus and Hera, and married to Aphrodite. Roman form: Vulcan
Herathe Greek goddess of marriage; Zeus’s wife and sister; Apollo’s stepmother. Roman form: Juno
Hermesthe Greek god of travelers; guide to spirits of the dead; god of communication. Roman form: Mercury.
hippocampusa sea creature with a horse’s head and a fish’s body
Horatius Coclesa Roman officer who, according to legend, single-handedly defended the Sublician Bridge over the Tiber River from the invading Etruscan army
Hyacinthusa Greek hero and Apollo’s lover, who died while trying to impress Apollo with his discus skills
immortuosLatin for undead
Imperial golda rare metal deadly to monsters, consecrated at the Pantheon; its existence was a closely guarded secret of the emperors
IrisGreek goddess of the rainbow
jiangshiChinese for zombie
Julius Caesara Roman politician and general whose military accomplishments extended Rome’s territory and ultimately led to a civil war that enabled him to assume control of the government in 49 BCE. He was declared “dictator for life” and went on to institute social reforms that angered some powerful Romans. A group of senators conspired against him and assassinated him on March 15, 44 BCE.
Junothe Roman goddess of marriage; Jupiter’s wife and sister; Apollo’s stepmother. Greek form: Hera
Jupiterthe Roman god of the sky and king of the gods. Greek form: Zeus
Jupiter Optimus MaximusLatin for Jupiter, the best and greatest god
Khromanda(Khromandae, pl.) a humanoid monster with gray eyes, a shaggy blond pelt, and doglike teeth; it can only communicate in loud shrieks
Koronisdaughter of a king; one of Apollo’s girlfriends, who fell in love with another man. A white raven Apollo had left to guard her informed him of the affair. Apollo was so angry at the raven for failing to peck out the man’s eyes that he cursed the bird, scorching its feathers. Apollo sent his sister, Artemis, to kill Koronis, because he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
Kronosthe Titan lord of time, evil, and the harvest. He is the youngest but boldest and most devious of Gaea’s children; he convinced several of his brothers to aid him in the murder of their father, Ouranos. He was also Percy Jackson’s primary opponent. Roman form: Saturn
Labyrinthan underground maze originally built on the island of Crete by the craftsman Daedalus to hold the Minotaur
lamiaRoman term for zombie
Lar(Lares, pl.) Roman house gods
legionnairea member of the Roman army
Lemurianfrom the ancient continent of Lemuria, now lost, but once thought to be located in the Indian Ocean
Letomother of Artemis and Apollo with Zeus; goddess of motherhood
libriLatin for books
lictoran officer who carried a fasces and acted as a bodyguard for Roman officials
Little Tibernamed after the Tiber River of Rome, the smaller river that forms the barrier of Camp Jupiter
Lunathe moon Titan. Greek form: Selene
Lupathe wolf goddess, guardian spirit of Rome
maenada female follower of Dionysus/Bacchus, often associated with frenzy
manubalistaa Roman heavy crossbow
Marsthe Roman god of war. Greek form: Ares
Medeaa Greek enchantress, daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis and granddaughter of the Titan sun god, Helios; wife of the hero Jason, whom she helped obtain the Golden Fleece
Meleagera prince who the Fates predicted would die when a piece of firewood was consumed. When his mother discovered that Meleager had killed her two brothers, she threw the wood into the fire, bringing about his death.
MeliaiGreek nymphs of the ash tree, born of Gaea; they nurtured and raised Zeus in Crete
Mercurythe Roman god of travelers; guide to spirits of the dead; god of communication. Greek form: Hermes
Minervathe Roman goddess of wisdom. Greek form: Athena
Mista magical force that prevents mortals from seeing gods, mythical creatures, and supernatural occurrences by replacing them with things the human mind can comprehend
Mount Olympushome of the Twelve Olympians
Mount Othrysa mountain in central Greece; the Titans’ base during the ten-year war between the Titans and the Olympians; the seat of the Titans in Marin County, California; known by mortals as Mount Tamalpais
Mount Vesuviusa volcano near the Bay of Naples in Italy that erupted in the year 79 CE, burying the Roman city of Pompeii under ash
mustera formal assembly of troops
myrmekea giant antlike creature the size of a full-grown German shepherd. Myrmekes live in enormous anthills, where they store shiny loot, like gold. They spit poison and have nearly invincible body armor and vicious mandibles.
naiada female water spirit
Nereida spirit of the sea
Neroruled as Roman Emperor from 54 to 58 CE; he had his mother and his first wife put to death; many believe he was responsible for setting a fire that gutted Rome, but he blamed the Christians, whom he burned on crosses; he built an extravagant new palace on the cleared land and lost support when construction expenses forced him to raise taxes; he committed suicide
New Romeboth the valley in which Camp Jupiter is located and a city—a smaller, modern version of the imperial city—where Roman demigods can go to live in peace, study, and retire
Nine Musesgoddesses who grant inspiration for and protect artistic creation and expression; daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne; as children, they were taught by Apollo. Their names are: Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polymnia, Ourania, and Calliope.
nuntiusLatin for messenger
nympha female deity who animates nature
Oliver Cromwella devout Puritan and influential political figure who led the parliamentary army during the English Civil War
Oracle of Delphia speaker of the prophecies of Apollo
Ouranosthe Greek personification of the sky; husband of Gaea; father of the Titans
Panthe Greek god of the Wild; the son of Hermes. Roman form: Faunus
pandos(pandai, pl.) a man with gigantic ears, eight fingers and toes, and a body covered with hair that starts out white and turns black with age
People’s Parka property located off Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, California, that was the site of a major confrontation between student protestors and police in May 1969
Phlegethonthe River of Fire in the Underworld
Plutothe Roman god of death and ruler of the Underworld. Greek form: Hades
Pomerian Linethe border of Rome
Pompeiia Roman city that was destroyed in 79 CE when the volcano Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried it under ash
Poseidonthe Greek god of the sea; son of the Titans Kronos and Rhea, and the brother of Zeus and Hades. Roman form: Neptune
praetoran elected Roman magistrate and commander of the army
praetoriumthe living quarters for the praetors at Camp Jupiter
princepsLatin for first citizen or first in line; the early Roman emperors adopted this title for themselves, and it came to mean prince of Rome
principiathe military headquarters for the praetors at Camp Jupiter
probatiothe rank assigned to new members of the legion at Camp Jupiter
Ptolemaicrelating to the Greco-Egyptian kings who ruled Egypt from 323 to 30 BCE
Pythona monstrous dragon that Gaea appointed to guard the Oracle at Delphi
River Styxthe river that forms the boundary between Earth and the Underworld
Romulusa demigod son of Mars, twin brother of Remus; first king of Rome, who founded the city in 753 BCE
Saturnaliaan ancient Roman festival held in December in honor of the god Saturn, the Roman equivalent of Kronos
satyra Greek forest god, part goat and part man
Selenethe moon Titan. Roman form: Luna
Senatea council of ten representatives elected from the legion at Camp Jupiter
Senate Housethe building at Camp Jupiter where the senators meet to discuss such issues as whether a quest should be granted or whether war should be declared
Sibyla prophetess
Sibylline Booksthe Cumaean Sibyl’s prophecies—prescriptions for warding off disasters—dating back to ancient Roman times, collected in nine volumes, six of which were destroyed by the Sibyl herself. The three remaining books were sold to the last Roman king, Tarquin, and then lost over time. Ella the harpy read a copy of the three Books and is trying to reconstruct all the prophecies with her photographic memory and the help of Tyson the Cyclops.
sica(siccae, pl.) a short, curved sword
Sommea battle of World War I fought by the British and French against the Germans by the River Somme in France
Somnusthe Roman god of sleep
spathaa Roman cavalry sword
spolia opimaone-on-one combat between two opposing leaders in a war, the ultimate display of courage for a Roman; literally, spoils of war
strix(strixes, pl.) a large blood-drinking owl-like bird of ill omen
Stymphalian birdsmonstrous man-eating birds with sharp Celestial bronze beaks that can tear through flesh. They can also shoot their feathers at prey like arrows.
Styxa powerful water nymph; the eldest daughter of the sea Titan, Oceanus; goddess of the Underworld’s most important river; goddess of hatred; the River Styx is named after her
sub rosaLatin for under the rose, meaning sworn to secrecy
Suburaa crowded lower-class area of ancient Rome
Summer of Lovea gathering of more than 100,000 hippies or “flower children” in the San Francisco neighborhood of Haight-Ashbury during the summer of 1967 to enjoy art, music, and spiritual practices while also protesting the government and materialistic values
TarquinLucius Tarquinius Superbus was the seventh and final king of Rome, reigning from 534 to 509 BCE, when, after a popular uprising, the Roman Republic was established
Temple Hillthe site just outside the city limits of New Rome where the temples to all the gods are located
Terminusthe Roman god of boundaries
Terpsichorethe Greek goddess of dance; one of the Nine Muses
terza rimaa form of verse consisting of three-line stanzas in which the first and third lines rhyme and the middle line rhymes with the first and third lines of following stanza
testudoa tortoise battle formation in which legionnaires put their shields together to form a barrier
Teumessian Foxa gigantic fox sent by the Olympians to prey upon the children of Thebes; it is destined never to be caught
Three Gracesthe three charities: Beauty, Mirth, and Elegance; daughters of Zeus
Tiber Riverthe third-longest river in Italy; Rome was founded on its banks; in ancient Rome, criminals were thrown into the river
Titansa race of powerful Greek deities, descendants of Gaea and Ouranos, who ruled during the Golden Age and were overthrown by a race of younger gods, the Olympians
triremea Greek warship, having three tiers of oars on each side
triumviratea political alliance formed by three parties
Trojan WarAccording to legend, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans (Greeks) after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband, Menelaus, king of Sparta
Troya pre-Roman city situated in modern-day Turkey; site of the Trojan War
Underworldthe kingdom of the dead, where souls go for eternity; ruled by Hades
vappaeLatin for spoiled wines
ventus(venti, pl.) storm spirits
Venusthe Roman goddess of love and beauty. Greek form: Aphrodite
Via Praetoriathe main road into Camp Jupiter that runs from the barracks to the headquarters
Vnicornes ImperantLatin for Unicorns Rule
vrykolakas(vrykolakai, pl.) Greek word for zombie
Vulcanthe Roman god of fire, including volcanic, and of crafts and blacksmithing. Greek form: Hephaestus
Waystationa place of refuge for demigods, peaceful monsters, and Hunters of Artemis located above Union Station in Indianapolis, Indiana
Zeusthe Greek god of the sky and the king of the gods. Roman form: Jupiter