The Alchemist's Code

GLOSSARY

altana a roof-top platform androne a ground-floor hall used for business in a merchant’s palace atelier a studio or workshop barnabotti impoverished nobles, named for the parish of San Barnaba

Basilica of San Marco the great church alongside the Doges’ Palace; burial place of St. Mark and center of the city broglio the area of the Piazzetta just outside the palace where the nobles meet and intrigue; by extension the political intrigue itself ca’ (short for casa) a house calle an alley campo an open space in front of a parish church casa a noble house, meaning either the palace or the family itself cavaliere servente a married woman’s male attendant (and frequently gigolo)

Circospetto popular nickname for the chief secretary to the Council of Ten clarissimo “most illustrious,” form of address for a nobleman

Collegio the executive, roughly equivalent to a modern cabinet-the doge, his six counselors, and the sixteen ministers

Constantinople the capital of the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire, now Istanbul corno the distinctive cap worn by the doge

Council of Ten the intelligence and security arm of the government, made up of the doge, his six counselors, and ten elected noblemen dogaressa the doge’s wife doge (“duke” in Venetian dialect) the head of state, elected for life ducat a silver coin, equal to 8 lira or 160 soldi, and roughly a week’s wages for a married journeyman laborer with children (unmarried men were paid less) fante (pl: fanti) a minion of the Ten felze a canopy on a gondola (no longer used) fondamenta a footpath alongside a canal

Great Council the noblemen of Venice in assembly, the ultimate authority in the state lira (pl: lire) a coin equal to 20 soldi lustrissimo “most illustrious,” honorific given to wealthy or notable citizens magazzen a tavern that does not sell food and stays open around the clock marangona the great bell in the campanile San Marco, which marked the main divisions of the day messer my lord or sir

Missier Grande the chief of police, who carries out the orders of the Ten

Molo the waterfront of the Piazzetta, on the Grand Canal moresca a popular Venetian sword dance

Piazza the city square in front of the Basilica of San Marco

Piazzetta an extension of the Piazza, flanking the palace

Porte or Sublime Porte, the Sultan’s government in Constantinople

Quarantia the Council of Forty, very roughly equal to a supreme court but with administrative duties also. The three chiefs of the Quarantia are also members of the Signoria salone a reception hall salotto a living room sbirro (pl: sbirri) a police constable scuola (pl: scuole) a confraternity (restricted to commoners) sequin a gold coin equal to 440 soldi (22 lire)

Serenissima, La the Republic of Venice

Signori di Notte young aristocrats elected to run the local sbirri

Signoria the doge and his six counselors, plus the three chiefs of the Quarantia soldo (pl: soldi) see DUCAT

Ten see COUNCIL OF TEN

Three the state inquisitors, a subcommittee of the Council of Ten traghetto a permanent mooring station for public-hire gondolas; also the association of gondoliers that owns it

Tuscan the language of Florence, which became modern Italian

Veneziano the language of Venice vizio Missier Grande ’s deputy

Wells the prison cells on the ground floor of the Doges’ Palace zonta a group of extra members added to a committee