Chapter I: Preface

The editor has endeavored in the following pages to give some account of the customs and institutions of the Romans and of ancient Mythology in a form adapted to the use of classical schools.

In making the compilation he has freely drawn from all creditable sources of information within his reach, but chiefly from the following: Sketches of the institutions and domestic customs of the Romans, published in London a few years since; from the works of Adams, Kennett, Lanktree, Montfaucon, Middleton and Gesner: upon the subject of Mythology, from Bell, Spense, Pausanias, La Pluche, Plutarch, Pliny, Homer, Horace, Virgil, and many others to whom reference has been occasionally made.

_Boston, July, 1832._

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In the second edition now offered to the public much has been added to the department of Antiquities. A more comprehensive chapter upon the weights, measures and coins of the Romans has been substituted in the place of the former one, and many other improvements made which it is hoped will be found acceptable. As it was not thought expedient to increase the size of the volume, the additions have been made by excluding the questions.

_Boston, May, 1833._

CONTENTS.

Chap. Page.

1. Foundation of Rome and division of inhabitants 9 2. The Senate 13 3. Other divisions of the Roman people 18 4. Gentes and Familiae, Names of the Romans 19 5. Private rights of Roman citizens 21 6. Public rights of Roman citizens 23 7. Places of worship 24 8. Other public buildings 26 9. Porticos, arches, columns, and trophies 30 10. Bagnios, aqueducts, sewers, and public ways 32 11. Augurs and Auguries 33 12. Aruspices, Pontifices, Quindecemviri, Vestals, &c. 34 13. Religious ceremonies of the Romans 37 14. The Roman year 39 15. Roman games 42 16. Magistrates 44 17. Of military affairs 49 18. Assemblies, judicial proceedings, and punishments of the Romans 53 19. Roman dress 57 20. Fine arts and literature 59 21. Roman houses 61 22. Marriages and funerals 63 23. Customs at meals 66 24. Weights, measures, and coins 67

MYTHOLOGY.

1. Celestial Gods 71 2. Celestial Goddesses 77 3. Terrestrial Gods 82 4. Terrestrial Goddesses 87 5. Gods of the woods 94 6. Goddesses of the woods 101 7. Gods of the sea 106 8. Tartarus and its Deities 111 9. The condemned in Hell 123 10. Monsters of Hell 126 11. Dii Indigites, or heroes who received divine honors after death 128 12. Other fabulous personages 146