abominations
morally reprehensible actions or objects
amethyst
transparent purple variety of quartz
amorous of
attracted to
Assyria
Roman province roughly located in modern-day Iraq
baldricks
wide belts worn over the shoulder to support a sword worn on the hip
basilisk
legendary serpent with deadly breath and glance
beryl
transparent glassy gemstone often occuring in pink, white, green, blue, or yellow
blasphemy
profane or irreligious action or speech
Borza
area in ancient Macedonia
Cappadocia
vast inland territory, ruled by Rome, in what is now central Turkey
carbuncle
deep red garnet
centaur
mythical monster having the head, arms, and torso of a human and the legs of a horse
chalcedony
greyish quartz often used for gemstones
Chaldeans
citizens of Chaldea, a part of ancient Babylonia now located in modern-day Iraq.
charger
platter
chrysolite
brown or yellow-green gemstone
cistern
well
clamoring
rioting
cypress tree
tree with distinctive scalelike leaves, common in the Mediterranean
Cyprus
island in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea
dove-cots
man-made compartmental structure used for housing birds
Edom
the land inhabited by the Edomites, people descended from the biblical figure Esau. Edom was located in a valley between what is now Israel and Jordan.
Elias
Latinized word for the name "Elijah," here referring to the most important prophet in Jewish tradition
evil counsel
bad advice
Galilee
area comprising one-third of what is now Israel
garland
wreath
Gentiles
Jewish term for non-Jews
gouty
sick with gout, a disease that causes inflammation in the joints, particularly the hands and feet
hyacinth
colorful flower native to the Mediterranean region
idol-sellers
merchants selling idols, objects of worship for the followers of various pagan religions
jasper
opaque quartz that is red, yellow, or brown
languorous
listless; dreamy
latchet
leather strap used to fasten a shoe or sandal
leathern
made of leather
lepers
people infected with leprosy, a mildly contagious disease leading to deformity and paralysis of the extremities
locusts
large, swarming, grasshopper-like insects
loins
region on the human body of the hips, groin, and lower abdomen
mitre
turban or headdress of a high priest
Moab
territory located on a mountainous strip of land between what is now Jordan and the Dead Sea. The Moabites were in conflict with the Israelite Jews.
moonstone
pearl-colored gemstone
mortar
bowl in which substances are ground with a tool called a pestle
muslin
rough cotton cloth
myrtle
flowered tree common in the Mediterranean
Nubia
independent kingdom in the south of present-day Egypt
Numidia
area of northern Africa on the border of modern-day Tunisia and Algeria. Numidia was under Roman rule.
nymphs
minor deities in Greek and Roman mythology, often represented as beautiful wild women
onyx
gemstone that features bands of different colors
page
attendant
peradventure
perhaps
Pharisees
members of a political party and social movement that flourished among Jews in Salome's time
raiment
clothing
sackcloth
rough cloth often made out of camel's or goat's hair
Sadducees
political party that flourished among Jews in Salome's time and was the most vocal rival of the Pharisees
Samaria
mountainous land along the Jordan river, now part of Israel and often referred to as the West Bank. Samaria was a part of Judea.
Samothrace
island in Greece on the North Aegean Sea
Sanctuary
holy area of a temple that surrounds the altar
sardonyx
onyx with alternating brown and white bands
satire
literary work or device in which something is attacked through irony, derision, or wit
sepulchre
chamber that serves as a grave
Seres
Greek and Roman name for northwestern China. It was an important source of silk.
shroud
cloth used to wrap the dead
smote
inflicted a heavy blow
Smyrna
Greek city-state (now a Turkish province) in Ionia on the Aegean Sea
so fair a humour
such a good mood
sombre
melancholy; serious
Son of Man
Jesus Christ (in his own words)
Stoics
followers of a school of philosophy originating in Greece but also popular in Rome, emphasizing detachment of emotions and self-control.
Syrian
citizen of Syria, a country bordering Israel and Lebanon
tarry
to wait or delay
terrace
a porch bordered by columns
Tetrarch
a governor of one of four divisions of a country or province
The Temple
likely Herod's Temple in Jerusalem, Herod the Great's reconstruction of the holy Second Temple that was desecrated by Roman forces
topaz
light-yellow variety of quartz
Tyre
city in modern-day Lebanon
vast
large; broad
vipers
venomous snakes
what dost thou
what are you doing
