assignment of provinces to ex-magistrates was also in the hands of the senate, as was the granting of triumphs and the appointing of periods of thanksgiving, Furthermore, it superintended many matters connected with religion, as, for instance, the consulting of the Sibylline Books. Besides the white toga, which was worn by all Roman citizens, senators wore a white tunic distinguished by the latus clavus-a broad purple stripe running down from each shoulder to the hem of the garment, both in front and behind. They also wore dark red shoes fastened above the instep with black straps. Ex-magistrates, however, wore the same attire as during their official terms. THE ASSEMBLIES I. Contiones A contio was a public meetingusually held in the Forum or Comitium- which any one might attend, even foreigners and slaves. It might be called by any magistrate for any reason which he deemed adequate. Though it was the only gathering open to the whole people in which discussion was allowed, yet even here no one could speak unless called upon by the presiding magistrate, who also had the right to adjourn the meeting at any time. The contiones served two valuable purposes: (1) They enabled magis trates to explain and argue measures before they were presented in the Comitia. (2) They afforded a medium by which the people could be kept informed upon matters of public concern. II. Comitia Curiata Though the oldest of the legislative assemblies and originally one of great influence, the chief functions of the Comitia Curiata in Cicero's time were (1) the bestowing of the imperium, i.e. military and civil authority, upon consuls and praetors and (2) the inaugurating of certain religious officials. III. Comitia Centuriata The Comitia Centuriata owed its influence originally to its lawmaking powers and its jurisdiction in criminal cases, but in the republic these functions had for the most part been transferred to the standing courts and the other assemblies. It still retained the sole right, however, to declare war and to elect consuls, praetors, and censors. As it was in character a military body, it could not meet in the city proper. Its meetings were usually held in the Campus Martius, at the call of either a consul or praetor. IV. Comitia Tributa The Comitia Tributa, based upon the division of the entire people into thirty tribes, met either in the Forum or the Campus Martius, at the call of a consul, praetor, or curule aedile. It enacted laws, which were called leges, and under certain circumstances sat as a court, when the curule aedile presided. It also elected quaestors, the curule aediles, and some of the inferior magistrates. ROMAN RELIGIOUS OFFICIALS The Roman religion was a natural development from family worship. As the head of the family (pater familias) carried on the worship of the household gods (Lares and Penates) in his house, so the state religious officials propitiated the national divinities either on the rostra, in the Forum, in the Garden of Scipio, or more frequently, in fact regularly, in the auguraculum on the Capitoline Hill. Officers of religion were divided into colleges (collegia). Of these the most important were the (1) Augures, (2) Pontifices, (3) Fetiales. Others that may be mentioned here were the (4) XV viri sacris faciundis, and the The Augurs, originally three in number, but fifteen in Cicero's time, were elected for life. They had as their chief function the interpretation of the auspices for state officials. This was done in at least five ways: (1) ex avibus (“birds ”), (2) ex quadrupedibus ("animals "), (3) ex tripudiis ("chickens "), (4) ex caelo ("heavenly bodies "), and The Pontifices, also numbering fifteen, were chosen for life. Their official residence was the Regia, situated in the Sacra Via near the Forum. Their duties involved a general supervision of all religious ceremonies, including guardianship of the moral code (fas). It devolved upon them also to keep a list of all Roman magistrates, with some brief account of the achievements of each while in office. Their chief, the pontifex maximus, selected the Vestal virgins and the numerous flamines, both regular and special, regulated the Roman calendar (assigning dates for festivals, etc.), superintended various festivals, and prescribed and regulated many family ceremonies, especially marriage. The Fetiales twenty in number - were heralds who seem to have been the guardians of treaties with foreign nations and in general of all foreign relations. Apparent violations of treaty rights were referred to them. In extreme cases they might declare war. The XV viri sacris faciundis — chosen from ex-consuls and expraetors for life—had charge of the Sibylline Books. According to tradition, these books were purchased by Tarquinius Superbus from the Cumaean Sibyl and kept under the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. They were destroyed when the Capitol burned in 83 B.C., but were promptly replaced. The Haruspices were soothsayers, corresponding in some measure to the modern medium, whose function was to read the future by observing natural phenomena (such as lightning, earthquakes, etc.) and by examining the entrails of animals. |