A DICTIONARY

OF

Classical Antiquities
Mythology, Religion, Literature and Art

FROM THE GERMAN OF

Dr. OSKAR SEYFFERT

REVISED AND EDITED, WITH ADDITIONS, BY

HENRY NETTLESHIP, M.A.
Late Fellow of
Corpus Christ! College and Corpus Professor of Latin Literature in the University of Oxford

J. E. SANDYS, LiTT.D.
Fellow and Tutor of
St. John's College and Public Orator in the University of Cambridge

WITH MORE THAN 4.50 ILLUSTRATIONS

LONDON
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yi PREFACE TO SECOND AND THIRD EDITIONS,

PREFACE TO SllCb3^D EDITlGtN.

The favourable been accorded to this work has en-
recejptidn that has
abled the publishers to issue a second edition at an exceptionally early
date. The book has been revised by Dr. Sandys, and some minor in-
accuracies have been removed. References to Aristotle's Constitution of
Athens, which, in the former edition, could only be inserted in the last
two hundred pages, have now been added in the first five hundred, wher-
ever such addition seemed to be required. Lastly, an Index has been
supplied, which, it is hoped, will make the work still further useful as a
book of reference.
September, 1891.

PEEFACE TO THIBD EDITION.

The present edition has been further revised and corrected by Dr.
Sandys. The articles in which the most considerable changes have been
introduced are those on Gomitia, Music, and Theatre. The article on
Gomitia has been revised in accordance with the views of Mommsen ; that

on Music tak.es. account of Mr. Monro's recent work on the Modes of

Ancient Music ; and that on Theatre gives some additional details re-
specting the architectural theories of Dr. Dorpfeld.
In stating approximate English equivalents for Roman money. Dr.
Sandys has thought it right to reconsider the choice made by the late
Professor Nettleship between the alternative estimates given ia Mar-
quardt's Handbuch, vol. ii., p. 71. The sum of 1,000 sesterces is there
reckoned as equivalent, under a gold- standard, to 217*52 marks, or
£10 17s. 6d. and, under a silver standard, to 175"41 marks, or
;

£8 15s. 6d. In the former editions the gold standard was adopted, and
1,000 sesterces taken as equivalent to £10; in the present, the silver
standard has been preferred, and the equivalent is accordingly £8 15s.
Under this estimate a Roman denarius is equivalent to S^d., or very little
more than a Grreek drachma, which is here set at 8d.
It should be added that the Index here reprinted from the Second
Edition is the work of the late Mr. H. D. Dai'bishire, Fellow of St.
John's College, Cambridge.
December, 1894.

ABBREVIATIONS, ETC.
cp. compare. ib. ibidem.
q.v. quod vide. ^w indicates a short syllable.
I.e. locus (or liber) citatuH. — indicates a long syllable.
 TRIBUNI ^RARn
play and for the emperor, the other for the
Vestal Virgins and the empress.
Tribuni -.fflrarii (from ces=stipendium,
"pay"). The name given amongst the
• Romans in earlier times to the wealthy
members of the several tribes, who were
entrusted with the levying of the war-tax
{see TEIB0TOM) and the distribution of pay
to the soldiers from the proceeds of it.
What position they held after the payment
of the troops was handed over to the
quaestors is not clear, from want of infor-
mation on the subject. In the 1st century
B.C. they appear as a distinct class, from
which, during the years 70-46 B.C., the
third decuria of judges was appointed to
represent the plebeians, the other two con-
sisting of senators and knights.
TrlMni Militum (military tribunes).
The superior officers of the Roman legions,
six in number, two of whom always held
the command for two months on alternate
days. They were appointed before the
levy took place, as they themselves had to
be in office at that time. Originally they
were nominated by the consuls ; afterwards
partly by them and partly by the people,
inasmuch as the people elected twenty-foiir
out of the number of candidates in the
comitia trlbuta for the four legions which
were levied regularly every year, while the
consuls retained the appointment for the
remaining legions. They were not as a
rule taken from veteran centurions, but
for the greater part from young men of
senatorial or equestrian rank, who had
served their first campaign in the train
or on the staif of a general, and then began
their political career with this office. As
a mark of distinction, all of them wore the
gold ring of the equestrian order. They
also wore a narrow or broad purple stripe on
thoir toga, according as they were of eques-
trian or senatorial rank respectively. In
the time of the Empire, they always led
the legion on the march and in battle.
They did not, however, as under the
Republic, rank immediately below the
commanders-in-chief, but under the legdtus
leglBnis, the commander of the legion and
its auxiliary troops.
Tribiiiii Plebis (tribunes of the commons).
The name given among the Romans to
the official representatives granted to the
plebeians in 494 B.C., as a protection against
the oppression of patricians and the consuls.
At first they were two in number, then
five, and (after 457) ten. Only free-born
plebeians were eligible for the office, which
TRIBUNI PLEBIS. 65J
was annual. The election took place at
first in the cSmltia curuita, but after 471
in the comitia tributa, under the presidency
of any tribune who happened to be in office
at the time. At first they were only
magistrates of the plebs, and were without
any insignia of office, or even lictors, in-
stead of whom they had several attendants
{vldtores). This continued even after they
were fully recognised as public officials.^
On the other hand, they possessed the
privilege guaranteed to them by the plebs
under solemn oath, on the institution of
their office, of being " sacrosanct " and
inviolable ; and, under the protection of
this right, they extended their originally
limited powers by judicious encroach-
ments.
Their earliest right, which was at first
exercised in favour of the plebs, but soon
on behalf of all citizens, was that of pro-
tection (auxUium), which they could use
against all magistrates with the exception
of the dictator. This enabled them to
prevent the execution of official orders by
a simple veto (intercessio). In face of any
opposition they were authorized to have
recourse to compulsory measures such as
arrest, fines, or imprisonment. Their power
only extended over Rome and its immediate,
neighbourhood, and was further restricted
by the right of veto, which they could
exercise against one another. For the pro-
tection of the individual they only inter-
posed when their aid was asked. For this
purpose their house stood open day and
night to any who sought their assistance,,
and they themselves could never be absent
from the city a whole day, except during
the ferice Ldtince, when all business was-
suspended. Without appeal they could
interpose in any measure which affected
the whole plebs, such as the levying of
troops and the raising of the war-tax.
(tributum). This right of intercession,,
which originally was confined to the
auxilium, and which could never be
exercised except by the tribune in person,,
and simultaneously with the proceeding
that was to be prohibited, was in course^
•
of time gradually extended, until finally
the veto of the tribunes enabled them tO'
suspend almost all official proceedings;;
administrative measures, transactions with
the Senate, and meetings of the people for
the purpose of legislation and election,
etc. They had the right of calling meet-
ings of ih.Bplebs for the discussion of affairs
relating to that body. From the time that.