A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities/Acclamatio

ACCLAMATIO was the public expression of approbation or disapprobation, pleasure or displeasure, &c. by loud acclamations. For the special forms of acclamatio at marriages, funerals and triumphs, see MATRIMONIUM, FUNUS, TRIUMPHUS. Orators were usually praised by such expressions as Bene et praeclare, Belle et festive, Non potest melius, &c. (Cic. de Orat. 3.26, 101.) For the applause given to authors reciting their own compositions, see RECITATIO. Under the Empire the expression of popular applause in the circus and the theatre was reduced to a system. All the audience rose at the entrance of the emperor, and greeted him with an acclamation in a set form of words, and in a fixed rhythm. Nero developed this, selecting more than 5000 among the Roman knights and citizens (called Augustani or Augustales) to be trained in the Oriental method of musical salutation (modulatis laudationibus, Suet. Nero 20), so as to greet him at his entrance in accordance with a time for which the signal was given by one of his suite (Dio, 43.18; 61.20). The name acclamationes was also given to the decrees passed by the senate in honour of the emperor, and to the congratulations addressed to him, inasmuch as these were always carried by acclamation. Under Trajan these were entered in the Acta, and engraved upon bronze. (Plin. Panegyr. 75, &c.; Capitol. Maxim. duo, 16, 26, Gordian. tres, 11; Lamprid. Alexand. Sever. 6-12; Vopisc. Tac. 4, 5, 7, Prob. 11.) Many instances of acclamationes are given by Ferrarius, De Veterum Acclamationibus et Plausu, in Graevius, Thesaur. Rom. Antiq. vol. vi. Cf. also Henzen, Acta Fratr. Arval. p. 75 b.