aula, ae, f. (gen. aulāī, Verg. A. 3, 354; v. Neue, Formenl I. p 11), = αὐλή
I Lit., the front court of a Grecian house (mostly poet.; syn. atrium): janitor aulae, i. e. Cerberus , Hor. C. 3, 11, 16; also a court for the cattle (cf. αὐλή; Serv ad Verg. A. 9, 60): vacuam pastoris in aulam, Prop. 4, 12, 39; so Hor. Ep. 1, 2, 66; Petr. 119; Grat. Cyn. 167.—Also an inner court of a house , a hall , = atrium, Verg. A. 3, 354 lectus genialis in aulā est, Hor. Ep 1, 1, 87—
II Transf.
1 A palace , the castle of a noble , the royal court (syn.. regia, palatium, basilica): illā se jactet in aulā Aeolus. Verg. A. 1, 140 (cf. Hom. Od 10, 1 sq.) fuscae deus aulae, i. e. Pluto , Prop. 5, 11, 5; cf. Hor. C. 2, 18, 31: laeta Priami aula, id. ib. 4, 6, 16; 4, 14, 36 al.: rarissimam rem in aulā consequi senectutem, in a court , Sen. Ira, 2, 33; cf.: caret invidendā Sobrius aulā, Hor. C. 2, 10, 8.—Poet., of the cell of the queen-bee : aulas et cerea regna refingunt, Verg. G. 4, 202.—
2 Meton.
a Princely power , dignity : rex omni auctoritate aulae communita imperium cum dignitate obtinuit, Cic. Fam. 15, 4 qui tum aulā et novo rege potiebatur, i. e. possessed the highest influence at court , Tac. A. 6, 43. —
b The persons belonging to the court , the court , courtiers : prona in eum aula Neronis (erat) ut similem, Tac. H. 1, 13 fin. : tum Claudius inter ludibria aulae erat, Suet. Ner. 6.