Abstract
The article is focusing on development of terms, which were used in The Roman Empire to denote public opinion. Article is discussing the using of several different terms, which are denoting opinion (fama, existimatio, opinio, rumor and sermo) and which were often dependent not only on a particular writer, but foremost on social status.
The most used terms denoting opinion, fama and existimatio, were seen as a valuable opinion in speeches of politicans. On the other hand terms opinio, rumor and sermo were taken as unvalued and untruth and were considered as valueless and unreliable opinion of plebs which was a source and disseminator of rumour in the eye of ruling class.
Especially rumours seem to be important aspects because they were creating and denoting the phenomenon of public opinion.