Acclamatio

In Ancient Roman tradition, acclamatio was the public expression of approbation or disapprobation, pleasure or displeasure, etc, by loud acclamations. On many occasions, there appear to have been certain forms of acclamations always used by the Romans; as, for instance, at marriages, " _la. Io Hymen", " _la. Hymenaee", or " _la. Talassio"; at triumphs, " _la. Io triumphe, Io triumphe"; at the conclusion of plays the last actor called out " _la. Plaudite" to the spectators; orators were usually praised by such expressions as " _la. Bene et praeclare", " _la. Belle et festive", " _la. Non potest melius", etc.

Under the empire, the name of " _la. acclamationes" was given to the praises and flatteries which the senate bestowed upon the emperor and his family. These _la. acclamationes, which are frequently quoted by the "Scriptores Historiae Augustae", were often of considerable length, and seems to have been chanted by the whole body of senators.

There were regular _la. acclamationes shouted by the people, of which one of the most common was " _la. Dii te servent". Other instances of _la. acclamationes are given by Ferrarius, in his " _la. De Veterum Acclamationibus et Plausu", and in Graevius, " _la. Thesaurus antiquitatum Romanarum" vol. vi.

References

*GRA