A SUMMARY OF ROMAN ANTIQUITIES. The FOUNDATION of the CITY, and DIVISION of its INHABITANTS. OME was founded by Romulus* and a colony from Alba Longa, 753 years, as it is commonly thought, before the birth of Christ. They began to build on the 21st day of April, which was called Palilia, from Pales, the goddess of shepherds, to whom it was consecrated, and was ever after held as a festival; (dies natalis urbis Roma.) Vell. Paterc. i. 8. Ovid. Fast. iv. 806. Romulus divided the people of Rome into three TRIBES; and each tribe into ten CURIE. The number of tribes was afterwards increased by degrees to thirty-five. They were divided into country and city tribes, (rustica et urbana). The number of the curie always remained the same. Each curia anciently had a chapel or temple for the performance of sacred rites, Varr. de Lat. ling. iv. 32. Tacit. Ann. xii. 24. Dionys. ii. 23. He who presided over one curia was called CURIO, (quia sacra curabat, Festus); he who presided over them all, CURIO MAXIMUS. From each tribe Romulus chose 1000 foot-soldiers, and 100 horse. These 3000 foot and 300 horse were called LEGIO, a legion, because the most warlike were chosen, Plutarch in Romulo: Hence one of the thousand which each tribe furnished was called MILES, Varro de lat. ling. iv. 16. (unus ex mille), Isidor. ix. 3. The commander of a tribe was called TRIBUNUS, (puñagxas vel ręırvagzos.) Dionys. ii. 7. Veget. ii. 7. The first king of Rome. The first kind of government, among men, was Royalty, as Sallust and others observe: This was a consequence of the Patriarchal form, which originated from nature, and commenced with the Creation. ↑ From Lego, I choose. |