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ROMAN ANTIQUITIES:

OR, AN

ACCOUNT

OF THE

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS

OF THE

ROMANS:

RESPECTING THEIR

GOVERNMENT, MAGISTRA CY, LAWS, JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS, RELIGION, GAMES,
MILITARY AND NAVAL AFFAIRS, DRESS, EXERCISE, BATHS, MARRIAGES, DIVOR-
CES, FUNERALS, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, COINS, METHOD OF WRITING, HOUSES,
GARDENS, AGRICULTURE, CARRIAGES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, &c. &c.

DESIGNED CHIEFLY

TO ILLUSTRATE THE

LATIN CLASSICS,

BY EXPLAINING WORDS AND PHRASES, FROM THE RITES AND
CUSTOMS TO WHICH THEY REFER.

BY ALEXANDER ADAM, L.L. D.

Rector of the High School of Edinburgh.

REVISED, CORRECTED, AND ILLUSTRATED WITH NOTES AND ADDITIONS,

BY P. WILSON, LL. D.

PROFESSOR OF LANGUAGES IN COLUMBIA COLLEGE.

New-York;

PUBLISHED BY E. DUYCKINCK, G. LONG, COLLINS & HANNAY, COLLINS & 00.
AND O. H, ROORBACH.

W. E. Dean, Printer, No. 3 Wall-Strect. A..

1826.

Southern District of New-York, ss.

BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the twenty-seventh day of August, in the fortyfourth year of the Independence of the United States of America, William A. Mercein, of the said District, hath deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as Proprietor, in the words following, to wit:

"ROMAN ANTIQUITIES: or, An Account of the Manners and Custo:ns of the Romans, respecting their Government, Magistracy, Laws, Judicial Proceedings, Religion, Games, Military and Naval Affairs, Dress, Exercise, Baths, Marriages, Divorces, Funerals, Weights and Measures, Coins, Method of Writing, Houses, Gardens, Agriculture, Carriages, Public Buildings, &c. &c. Designed chiefly to illustrate the Latin Classics, by explaining Words and Phrases, from the Rites and Customs to which they refer. By Alexander Adam, LL.D. Rector of the High School of Edinburgh. Revised, Corrected, and Illustrated with Notes and Additions, by P. Wilson, L.L. D. Professor of Languages in Columbia College."

In conformity to the Act of Congress of the United States, entitled "An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books to the anthors and proprietors of such copies, during the time therein mentioned." And also to an Act, entitled "An Act, supplementary to an Act, entitled an Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints."

GILBERT LIVINGSTON THOMPSON,
Clerk of the Southern District of New-York.

LENOX

LIBRARY

NEW YORK

OL

PREFACE

ΤΟ

THE FIRST EDITION.

NOTHING has more engaged he attention of literary men since the revival of learning, than to trace from ancient monuments the institutions and laws, the religion, the manners, and customs of the Romans, under the general name of Roman Antiquities. This branch of knowledge is not only curious in itself, but absolutely necessary for understanding the Classics, and for reading with advantage the history of that celebrated people. It is particularly requisite for such as prosecute the study of the civil law.

Scarcely on any subject have more books been written, and many of them by persons of distinguished abilities. But they are, for the most part, too voluminous to be generally useful. Hence a number of abridgments have been published; of which those of Kennet and Nieuport are esteemed the best. The latter is on the whole better adapted than the former, to illustrate the Classics; but being written in Latin, and abounding with difficult phrases, is not fitted for the use of younger students. Besides, it contains nothing concerning the laws of the Romans, or the buildings of the city, which are justly reckoned among the most valuable parts in Kennet.

On these accounts, near twenty years ago, the Compiler of the following pages thought of framing from both, chiefly from Nieuport, a Compendium for his own use, with an intention to prin: it, if he should meet with no book on the subject to his mind. But he soon perceived, that on several important points, he could not derive from either the satisfaction he wished. He therefore had recourse to other sources of information; and chiefly to the Classics themselves. To enumerate the various authors he has consulted, would be tedious and useless. It is sufficient to say, that he has borrowed with freedom, from all hands, whatever he judged fit for his purpose. He has been chiefly indebted to Manutius, Brissonius, and Middleton, on the senate; to Pignorius, on slaves; to Sigonius and Grucchius, Manutius, Huber, Gravina, Merula, and Heineccius, on the assemblies of the people, the rights of citizens, the laws and judicial proceedings; to Lipsius, on the magistrates, the art of war, shows of the circus and gladiators; to Sheffer, on naval affairs and carriages; to Ferrarius, on the Roman dress; to

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