witnesses
to swear to the fact.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
At length, after a reign of thirty-seven
lerius Antias and Juba (Plut. Rom. 14 ; comp. years, when the city had become strong and power-
Liv. i. 13). The parents of the virgins returned ful, and Romulus had performed all his mortal
home and prepared for vengeance. The inhabitants works, the hour of his departure arrived. One
of three of the Latin towns, Caenina, Antemnae, day as he was reviewing his people in the Campus
and Crustumerium, took up arms one after the Martius, near the Goat's Pool, the sun was sud-
other, and were successively defeated by the denly eclipsed, darkness overspread the earth, and
Romans. Romulus slew with his own hand Acron, a dreadful storm dispersed the people. When
king of Caenina, and dedicated his arms and ar- daylight returned, Romulus had disappeared, for
mour, as spolia opima, to Jupiter. At last the his father Mars had carried him up to heaven in a
Sabine king, Titus Tatius, advanced with a pow. fiery chariot (“Quirinus Martis equis Acheronta
erful army, against Rome. His forces were so fugit," Hor. Carm. iii. 3 ; “ Rex patriis astra pete-
great that Romulus, unable to resist him in the bat equis," Ov. Fast. ii. 496). The people mourned
field, was obliged to retire into the city. He bad for their beloved king ; but their mourning gave
previously fortified and garrisoned the top of the way to religious reverence, when he appeared
Saturnian hill, afterwards called the Capitoline, again in more than mortal beauty to Proculus
which was divided from the city on the Palatine, Julius, and bade him tell the Romans that they
by a swampy valley, the site of the forum. But should become the lords of the world, and that he
Tarpeia, the daughter of the commander of the would watch over them as their guardian god Qui-
fortress, dazzled by the golden bracelets of the Sa- rinus. The Romans therefore worshipped him
bines, promised to betray the hill to them, if they under this name. The festival of the Quirinalia
would give her the ornaments which they wore on was celebrated in his honour on the 17th of Fe
their left arms. Her offer was accepted ; in the bruary ; but the Nones of Quintilis, or the seventh
night time she opened a gate and let in the enemy ; of July, wis the day on which, according to tra-
but when she claimed her reward, they threw upondition, he departed from the earth.
her the shields which they carried on their left Such was the glorified end of Romulus in the
arms, and thus crushed her to death. Her tomb genuine legend. But as it staggered the faith of a
was shown on the hill in later times, and her later age, a tale was invented to account for his
memory was preserved by the name of the Tar- mysterious disappearance. It was related that the
peian rock, from which traitors were afterwards senators, discontented with the tyrannical rule of
hurled down. On the next day the Romans en- their king, murdered him during the gloom of a
deavoured to recover the hill. A long and despe- tempest, cut up his body, and carried home the
rate battle was fought in the valley between the mangled pieces under their robes. But the forgers
Palatine and the Capitoline. At one time the of this tale forgot that Romulus is nowhere repre-
Romans were driven before the enemy, and the sented in the ancient legend as a tyrant, but as a
day seemed utterly lost, when Romulus vowed a mild and merciful monarch, whose rule became
temple to Jupiter Stator, the Stayer of Flight ; still more gentle after the death of Tatius, whom it
whereupon the Romans took courage, and returned branded as a tyrant.
again to the combat. At length, when both parties The genuine features of the old legend about
were exhausted with the struggle, the Sabine Romulus may still be seen in the accounts of Livy
women rushed in between them, and prayed their (i. 3-16), Dionysius (i. 76—ii. 56), and Plu-
husbands and fathers to be reconciled. Their tarch (Romul. ), notwithstanding the numerous
prayer was heard ; the two people not only made falsifications and interpolations by which it is ob-
peace, but agreed to form only one nation. The scured, especially in the two latter writers. It is
Romans continued to dwell on the Palatine under given in its most perfect form in the Roman Ilis
## p. 661 (#677) ############################################
ROMULUS.
661
ROMULUS.
There ap-
inen,
came,
tories of Niebuhr (vol. i. p. 220, &c. ) and Maldeu | pitoline hills, and the latter on the Caelian. In
(p. 6, &c. ).
course of time these Sabine and Etruscan settle-
As Romulus was regarded as the founder of ments coalesced with the Latin colony on the
Rome, its most ancient political institutions and Palatine, and the three peoples became united
the organisation of the people were ascribed to him into one state. At what time this union took
by the popular belief. Thus he is said to have place it is of course impossible to say ; the legend
divided the people into three tribes, which bore the referred it to the age of Romulus.
names Ramnes, Tities, and Luceres The Ramnes pears, however, sufficient evidence to prove that
were supposed to bave derived their name from the Latins and Sabines were united first, and
Romulus, the Tities from Titus Tatius the Sabine that it was probably long afterwards that the
king, and the Luceres from Lucumo, an Etruscan Etruscans became amalgamated with them. Of
chief who had assisted Romulus in the war against this we may mention, as one proof, the number of
the Sabines. Each tribe contained ten curiae, the kennte, which is said to have been doubled on
which received their names from the thirty Sabine the union of the Sabines, but which remained two
women who had brought about the peace between hundred till the reign of Tarquinius Priscus, who
the Romans and their own people. “Further, each is reported to have increased it to three hundred
curia contained ten gentes, and each gens a hundred (Liv. i. 35; Dionys. iii. 67). These three peoples,
Thus the people, according to the general after their amalgamation, became three tribes ; the
belief, were divided originally into three tribes, Latins were called Ramnes or Ramnenses ; the Sa-
thirty curiae, and three hundred gentes, which bines, Tities or Titienses ; the Etruscans, Luceres or
mustered 3000 men, who fought on foot, and were Lucerenses. The name of Ramnes undoubtedly
called a legion. Besides those there were three comes from the same root as that of Romus or
hundred borsemen, called celeres, the same body Romulus, and in like manner that of Tities is con-
as the equites of a later time ; but the legend neg- nected with Titus Tatius. The origin of the third
lects to tell us from what quarter these horsemen name is more doubtful, and was a disputed point
To assist him in the government of the even in antiquity. Most ancient writers derived
people Romulus is said to have selected a number of it from Lucumo, which etymology best agrees with
the aged men in the state, who were called patres, the Etruscan origin of the tribe, as Lucumo was a
or senatores. The council itself, which was called title of honour common to the Etruscan chiefs.
the senatus, originally consisted of one hundred Others suppose it to come from Lucerus, a king of
members; but this number was increased to two Ardea (Paul. Diac. s. v. Lucereses, p. 119, ed.
hundred when the Sabines were incorporated in Müller), a statement on which Niebuhr principally
the state.
In addition to the senate, there was relies for the proof of the Latin origin of the third
another assembly, consisting of the members of the tribe ; but we think with the majority of the best
gentes, which bore the name of comitia curiata, modern writers, that the Luceres were of Etruscan,
because they voted in it according to their division and not of Latin, descent. Each of these tribes
into curiae. To this assembly was committed the was divided into ten curiae, as the legend states;
election of the kings in subsequent times.
but that they derived their names from the thirty
That part of the legend of Romulus which relates Sabine women is of course fabulous. In like man-
to the political institutions which he is said to have ner each curia was divided into ten gentes, which
founded, represents undoubted historical facts. For must be regarded as smaller political bodies, rather
we have certain evidence of the existence of such than as combinations of persons of the same kin-
institutions in the earliest times, and many traces dred. For further information the reader is referred
endured to the imperial period : and the popular to the several articles on these subjects in the Dic-
belief only attempted to explain the origin of ex. tionary of Antiquities.
isting phenomena by ascribing their first establish- RO'MULUS AUGU'STULUS. [AUGUS-
ment to the heroic founder of the state. Thus, TULUS. ]
while no competent scholar would attempt in the RO'MULUS SI'LVIUS. (Silvius. ]
present day to give a history of Romulus ; because, RO'MULUS son of the emperor Maxentius.
even on the supposition that the legend still re- He was nominated colleague, in the consulship, to
tained some real facts, we have no criteria to sepa- his father, whom he predeceased, as we learn from
rate what is true from what is false ; yet, on the medals of consecration still extant, upon which he
other hand, it is no presumption to endeavour to is represented as a boy. [See below. ) The coin
form a conception of the political organisation of which bears the legend M. AUR. ROMULUS. NOBILIS.
Rome in the earliest times, because we can take Cars, is probably spurious. (Eckhel, vol. viii. p.
our start from actually existing institutions, and 59. )
[W. R. ]
trace them back, in many cases step by step, to
remote times. We are thus able to prove that the
legend is for the most part only an explanation
of facts which had a real existence. It would be
out of place here to attempt an explanation of
the early Roman constitution, but a few remarks
are necessary in explanation of the legendary ac-
count of the constitution which has been given
above.
The original site of Rome was on the Palatine
COIN OF ROMULUS, SON OF MAXENTIUS.
bill. On this there was a Latin colony established RO'MULUS, artists. 1. A sculptor of sarco-
at the earliest times, which formed an independent phagi, whose name is found inscribed on one side
On the neighbouring hills there appear to of a splendid sarcophagus in the Villa Medici.
have been also settlements of Sabines and Etrus (Guatuani, Monum. Ined. vol
. i. p. lvii. ; R. Ro-
cung, the former probably on the Quirinal and Cachette, Lettre à M. Schorn, p. 398, 2d ed. )
!
Pag! It
state,
UU 3
## p. 662 (#678) ############################################
662
ROSCIUS.
ROSCIUS.
2. Potitius, one of those artists of Roman Gaul, | as of ready money and other valuables. Forth with
whose names have become known to us by means of a bargain was struck between Chrysogonus and the
the inscriptions preserved in the Museum at Lyons. two Roscii ; and the name of Sextus was placed
This artist is designated in the inscription Akti8 on the proscription list, not withstanding an edict of
ARG EXCLUSSOR, which, there is little doubt, Sulla, that none of the proscribed should be pur-
means a maker of silver vases, as R. Rochette has sued after the first of June, B. C. 81. But as the
shown, following the Abbe Greppo, from the use name of Sextus was now on the list, his property
of the word erclusores in this sense, in a passage of was confiscated ; Capito obtained three of the
Augustine. (Ad Psalm. lxvii. 31 ; Du Cange, farms, and the remaining ten were purchased by
8. 7. Exclusor; R. Rochette, Lettre à M. Schurn, Chrysogonus for 2000 denarii, though they were
pp. 441, 442. 2d ed. )
(P. S. ] worth in reali 250 talents ; and Magnus was
ROMUS ('Pwuos). 1. A son of Odysseus and likewise well rewarded for his share in the business.
Circe. (Steph. Byz. 8. v. "Avtela. )
Such a barefaced act of villany excited the utmost
2. The brother of Romulus, who is commonly indignation at Ameria. The decuriones of the
called Remus. (Aelian, V. H. vii. 16. )
town accordingly sent ten of the principal citizens
3. A son of Emathion. (Plut. Romul. 2 ; comp. to Sulla to acquaint him with the real state of the
ROMULUS. )
(L. S. ] case, and to beg that the name of Roscius might be
KOʻSCIA GENS, plebeian, was of considerable erased from the proscription list, in order that his
Antiquity, as we read of a L. Roscius as early as sou might thus regain possession of his hereditary
B. C. 438 (see Roscius, No. 1]; but the name property. Alarmed at the turn that matters were
does not occur again till the last century of the taking, Chrysogonus had an interview with the
republic. None of its members obtained the con- deputation, and pledged his word that their request
sulship during the republic ; but in the imperial should be complied with ; and they, probably more
;
period three persons of this name received this than half-afraid of facing the dictator, were con-
honour. The only surnames of the Roman Roscii tented to receive the promise, and returned home
under the republic are FABATUS and Otho: the without seeing Sulla These half-measures, how.
Roscii at Ameria are distinguished by one or two ever, only exposed the younger Roscius to still
other surnames, which are given below. [Ros- greater peril. The robbers saw that they had no
cius, No. 2. )
security for their property as long as he was alive.
ROSCILLUS, a chief of the Allobroges, who | They therefore laid snares for his life, and he only
deserted from Caesar to Pompey, along with Aegus, escaped the fate of his father by flying to Rome
another chief of the same people. He is spoken of and taking refuge in the house of Caecilia, the
under Argus.
daughter of Metellus Balearicus. Here he was
RO'SCIUS. 1. L. Roscius, a Roman ambas- quite safe from private assassination. Disappointed
sador sent to Fidenae in B. C. 438. He and his of getting rid of him secretly, his enemies resolved
three colleagues were killed by the inhabitants of to murder him judicially. They accordingly bired
Fidenae, at the instigation of Lar Tolumnius, king a certain C. Erucius to accuse him of the murder
of the Veientes. The statues of all four were of liis father, and they paid a sufficient number of
erected in the Rostra at Rome. (Liv. iv. 17 ; Cic.
witnesses to swear to the fact. They felt sure of
Phil, ix. 2 ; Plin. H. N. xxxiv. 6. 8. 11. )
a verdict against the accused, as they did not
2. Sex. Roscius, of Ameria, a town in believe that any person of influence would under-
I'mbria, now Amelia, was accused of the murder take his defence ; and even if he could obtain an
of his father in B. C. 80, and was defended by advocate, they were convinced that his counsel
Cicero in an oration which is still extant, and would not dare, by speaking of the sale of the pro-
which was the first that the orator delivered in a perty, to bring any accusation against the powerful
criminal cause. The following are the circumstances freedman of Sulla. In this, however, they were
under which the prosecution arose. Sex. Roscius disappointed. Cicero, who was burning for dis-
had a father of the same name, who was one of tinction, saw that this was a most favourable op-
the most wealthy citizens of Ameria. The father portunity for gaining glory, and readily undertook
bore an unblemished character, but had for certain the defence. He did not hesitate to attack Chry-
reasons incurred the enmity of two of his relations sogonus with the utmost severity, and so evident
and fellow-townsmen, T. Roscius Magnus and T. was the guilt of the accusers, and so clear the in-
Roscius Capito, who not only hated the person, but nocence of the accused, that the judices had no
coveted the wealth of their neighbour. Sextus alternative left but the acquittal of Roscius. It
frequently visited Rome, where he lived on terms was the first trial for murder that had coine before
of intimacy with Metellus, Servilius, and other the judices since the judicia had been taken from
Roman nobles. On one of these visits to the the equites and restored to the senators by Sulla,
capital he was assassinated near the Palatine baths, and they were unwilling to give to the popular
as he was returning in the evening from a banquet. party such a handle against them as the condemna-
His enemy, Magnus, who was at Rome at the time, tion of Roscius would have supplied. Besides
and who had doubtless hired the assassins, imme- which Sulla allowed the court to exercise an un-
diately despatched a messenger with the news to biassed judgment, and did not interfere for the
Capito at Ameria, but without informing the sake of gratifying the wishes of his favourito.
younger Sextus, who was likewise at Ameria, of Cicero's speech was greatly admired at the time,
the death of his father. Four days afterwards and though at a later period he found fault with it
Chrysogonus, the freedman and favourite of Sulla, himself, as bearing marks of youthful exaggeration,
who was at Volaterrae in Etruria, was likewise it displays abundant evidence of his great oratorical
icquainted with the event. He learnt that the powers. (Comp. Cic. Orat. 30, de off. ii. 14;
property which Roscius had left behind him was Plut. Cic. 3 ; Drumann, Geschichte Roms, vol. v,
considerable, consisting of not less than thirteen pp. 231—244. )
firins, lying for the most part on the Tiber, as well 3. Q. Roscil's, the most celebrated comic actor
## p. 663 (#679) ############################################
ROSCIUS.
ROXANA.
663
at Rome, was a native of Solonium, a small place | Roscius had no right to make terms for himself
in the neighbourhood of Lanuvium. His sister was alone, and that according to the original agreement
inarried to Quintius, whom Cicero defended in B. C. he was entitled to half of the compensation. The
81. (Cic. pro Quint. 24, 25. ) A tale was told, that dispute was referred for arbitration to C. Piso,
in his infancy he was found in the folds of a ser- who did not give any formal decision, but
pent, and that this foreshadowed his future emi. at his recommendation Roscius consented to pay
nence. His extraordinary skill in acting procured Fannius a certain sum of money for the trouble he
him the favour of many of the most distinguished had had, and Fannius, on the other hand, pro-
Roman nobles, and, among others, of the dictator | mised to give Roscius the half of whatever he might
Sulla, who presented him with a gold ring, the receive from Flavius. Fannius now sued Flavius ;
synibol of equestrian rank. Like his celebrated the case came on before the judex C. Cluvilis, a Ro-
contemporary, the tragic actor Acsopus, Roscius man eques, who sentenced Flavius to pay 100,000
enjoyed the friendship of Cicero, who constantly sesterces. According to the statement of Roscius
speaks of him in terms both of admiration and he himself never received any part of this sum
affection, and on one occasion calls him his amures although he was entitled to half of it. Some years
el deliciae. Roscius paid the greatest attention to afterwards, when Flavius was dead, Fannius sued
his art, and obtained excellence in it by the most Roscius for 50,000 sesterces, as the balf of the
careful and elaborate study. It is to this that Horace value of the estate given to Roscius on the death
alludes, when he says (Ep. ii. 1. 82):
of Panurgus, and appealed to the agreement made
Quae gravis Aesopus, quae doctus Roscius egit. " before C. Piso, in support of his claim. The case
came on for trial before the same C. Piso, who now
So careful and assiduous was he in his prepara- acted as judex, and Cicero defended his friend in
tions, that even in the height of his reputation, he an oration, which has come down to us, though
did not venture upon a single gesture in public with the loss of the opening part. The date of the
which he had not previously well considered and oration is doubtful ; we have adopted the ove given
practised at home. But notwithstanding all this by Drumann, who discusses the matter at length
study, no mannerism or affectation appeared in his (Geschichte Roms, vol. v. pp. 346—348). The
acting ; every thing he did was perfectly natural subject of the oration has afforded matter for con-
to the character he represented ; and he himself siderable discussion to modern jurists and scholars.
used to say that decere was the highest excellence (See Unterholzner, Ueber die Rede des Cicero für
of the art. He was considered by the Romans to den Schauspieler R. Roscius, in Savigny's Zeitschrift,
have reached such perfection in his own profession, vol. i. p. 218, &c. ; München, Oralio M. T. C. pro
that it became the fashion to call every one who R. R. C. juridice ca positu, Coloniae, 1829; and
became particularly distinguished in his own art, Schmidt, in his edition of the oration, Lipsiae,
by the name of Koscius. In his younger years 1839. )
Cicero received instruction from Roscius ; and at a 4, 5. Roscn, two brothers, who accompanied
later time he and Roscius often used to try which Crassus on his Parthian expedition. (Plut. Cruss.
of them could express a thought with the greatest 31. )
effect, the orator by his eloquence, or the actor by 6. Roscius, a legate of Q. Cornificius in Africa,
bis gestures. Macrobius, who relates this anec- perished along with his commander, in B. C. 43.
dote, goes on to say that these exercises gave (Appian, B. C. iv. 56. ) (CORNIFICIUS, No. 3. )
Roscius so high an opinion of his art, that he wrote RO'SCIUS, L. AELIANUS. 1. Consul suf-
a work in which he compared eloquence and acting. fectus A. D. 100 (Fasti).
Like Aesopus, Roscius realized an immense fortune 2. Consul A. D. 223, with L. Marius Maximus,
by his profession. Macrobius says that he made in the reign of the emperor Severus (Fasti).
a thousand denarii a day, and Pliny relates that RO'SCIUS, CAEʻLIUS, the legatus of the
his yearly profits were fifty millions of sesterces. twentieth legion, which was stationed in Britain at
lle died in B. c. 62, as Cicero, in his oration for the time of Nero's death, A. D. 68. (Tac. Hist. i.
Archias (c. 8), which was delivered in that year, 60. )
speaks of his death as a recent event. (Cic. de Div. RO'SCIUS REGULUS. (REGULUS. ]
i. 36, ii. 31, de Orat. i. 27-29, 59, 60, ii. 57, 59, ROSIANUS GEMINUS, quaestor of the
iii. 26, 59, de Leg. i. 4, Brut. 84 ; Plut. Cic. 5 ; younger Pliny in his consulship, A. D. 100, is re-
Macrob. Sat. ii, 10 ; Val. Max. viii. 7. § 7 ; Plin. commended by the latter in one of his letters to
H. N. vii. 39. s. 40. ) A scholiast on Cicero gives Trajan (Ep. x. 11. s. 16).
the cognomen Gallus to Q. Roscius, but it does not ROXANA ('Pwędrn), a daughter of Oxyartes
occur elsewhere, as far as we know. (Schol. Bob. the Bactrian. According to Arrian, she fell into
pro Arch. p. 357, ed. Orelli. )
the hands of Alexander on his capture of the hill-
In B. c. 68 Cicero pleaded the cause of his friend fort in Sogdiana, named “the rock," where the
in a civil suit before the judex C. Piso. It appears wife and daughters of Oxyartes had been placed
that a certain C. Fannius Chaerea had a slave of for security ; and the conqueror was so captivated
the name of Panurgus, whom he entrusted to by the charms of Roxana (who appeared to the
Roscius for instruction in his art, un the agreement | Macedonians the most beautiful of all the Asiatic
that whatever profits the slave might acquire should women they had seen, except the wife of Dareius),
be divided between them. Panurgus was murdered that he resolved to marry her – a design which
by one Q. Flavius of Tarquinii, and accordingly an induced Oxyartes, when he heard of it, to come
action was brought against him for damages, by and submit himself to Alexander, B. c. 327 (Arr.
Fannius and Roscius. Before the case came on for Anab. iv. 18—20). The statements of Curtius
trial, Roscius received from Flavius a farm, which (viii. 4), and of Plutarch (Alex. 47), differ in
Fannius valued at 100,000 sesterces : Roscius some points from the above account; but see
inaintained that this farm was simply a compensa-Droysen, Alexander, p. 346. At the time of Alex-
tion for his own loss; but Fannius asserted that ander's death, in B. C. 323, Roxana was far ad-
UU 4
## p. 664 (#680) ############################################
664
RUBRIUS.
RUFINUS.
lerius Antias and Juba (Plut. Rom. 14 ; comp. years, when the city had become strong and power-
Liv. i. 13). The parents of the virgins returned ful, and Romulus had performed all his mortal
home and prepared for vengeance. The inhabitants works, the hour of his departure arrived. One
of three of the Latin towns, Caenina, Antemnae, day as he was reviewing his people in the Campus
and Crustumerium, took up arms one after the Martius, near the Goat's Pool, the sun was sud-
other, and were successively defeated by the denly eclipsed, darkness overspread the earth, and
Romans. Romulus slew with his own hand Acron, a dreadful storm dispersed the people. When
king of Caenina, and dedicated his arms and ar- daylight returned, Romulus had disappeared, for
mour, as spolia opima, to Jupiter. At last the his father Mars had carried him up to heaven in a
Sabine king, Titus Tatius, advanced with a pow. fiery chariot (“Quirinus Martis equis Acheronta
erful army, against Rome. His forces were so fugit," Hor. Carm. iii. 3 ; “ Rex patriis astra pete-
great that Romulus, unable to resist him in the bat equis," Ov. Fast. ii. 496). The people mourned
field, was obliged to retire into the city. He bad for their beloved king ; but their mourning gave
previously fortified and garrisoned the top of the way to religious reverence, when he appeared
Saturnian hill, afterwards called the Capitoline, again in more than mortal beauty to Proculus
which was divided from the city on the Palatine, Julius, and bade him tell the Romans that they
by a swampy valley, the site of the forum. But should become the lords of the world, and that he
Tarpeia, the daughter of the commander of the would watch over them as their guardian god Qui-
fortress, dazzled by the golden bracelets of the Sa- rinus. The Romans therefore worshipped him
bines, promised to betray the hill to them, if they under this name. The festival of the Quirinalia
would give her the ornaments which they wore on was celebrated in his honour on the 17th of Fe
their left arms. Her offer was accepted ; in the bruary ; but the Nones of Quintilis, or the seventh
night time she opened a gate and let in the enemy ; of July, wis the day on which, according to tra-
but when she claimed her reward, they threw upondition, he departed from the earth.
her the shields which they carried on their left Such was the glorified end of Romulus in the
arms, and thus crushed her to death. Her tomb genuine legend. But as it staggered the faith of a
was shown on the hill in later times, and her later age, a tale was invented to account for his
memory was preserved by the name of the Tar- mysterious disappearance. It was related that the
peian rock, from which traitors were afterwards senators, discontented with the tyrannical rule of
hurled down. On the next day the Romans en- their king, murdered him during the gloom of a
deavoured to recover the hill. A long and despe- tempest, cut up his body, and carried home the
rate battle was fought in the valley between the mangled pieces under their robes. But the forgers
Palatine and the Capitoline. At one time the of this tale forgot that Romulus is nowhere repre-
Romans were driven before the enemy, and the sented in the ancient legend as a tyrant, but as a
day seemed utterly lost, when Romulus vowed a mild and merciful monarch, whose rule became
temple to Jupiter Stator, the Stayer of Flight ; still more gentle after the death of Tatius, whom it
whereupon the Romans took courage, and returned branded as a tyrant.
again to the combat. At length, when both parties The genuine features of the old legend about
were exhausted with the struggle, the Sabine Romulus may still be seen in the accounts of Livy
women rushed in between them, and prayed their (i. 3-16), Dionysius (i. 76—ii. 56), and Plu-
husbands and fathers to be reconciled. Their tarch (Romul. ), notwithstanding the numerous
prayer was heard ; the two people not only made falsifications and interpolations by which it is ob-
peace, but agreed to form only one nation. The scured, especially in the two latter writers. It is
Romans continued to dwell on the Palatine under given in its most perfect form in the Roman Ilis
## p. 661 (#677) ############################################
ROMULUS.
661
ROMULUS.
There ap-
inen,
came,
tories of Niebuhr (vol. i. p. 220, &c. ) and Maldeu | pitoline hills, and the latter on the Caelian. In
(p. 6, &c. ).
course of time these Sabine and Etruscan settle-
As Romulus was regarded as the founder of ments coalesced with the Latin colony on the
Rome, its most ancient political institutions and Palatine, and the three peoples became united
the organisation of the people were ascribed to him into one state. At what time this union took
by the popular belief. Thus he is said to have place it is of course impossible to say ; the legend
divided the people into three tribes, which bore the referred it to the age of Romulus.
names Ramnes, Tities, and Luceres The Ramnes pears, however, sufficient evidence to prove that
were supposed to bave derived their name from the Latins and Sabines were united first, and
Romulus, the Tities from Titus Tatius the Sabine that it was probably long afterwards that the
king, and the Luceres from Lucumo, an Etruscan Etruscans became amalgamated with them. Of
chief who had assisted Romulus in the war against this we may mention, as one proof, the number of
the Sabines. Each tribe contained ten curiae, the kennte, which is said to have been doubled on
which received their names from the thirty Sabine the union of the Sabines, but which remained two
women who had brought about the peace between hundred till the reign of Tarquinius Priscus, who
the Romans and their own people. “Further, each is reported to have increased it to three hundred
curia contained ten gentes, and each gens a hundred (Liv. i. 35; Dionys. iii. 67). These three peoples,
Thus the people, according to the general after their amalgamation, became three tribes ; the
belief, were divided originally into three tribes, Latins were called Ramnes or Ramnenses ; the Sa-
thirty curiae, and three hundred gentes, which bines, Tities or Titienses ; the Etruscans, Luceres or
mustered 3000 men, who fought on foot, and were Lucerenses. The name of Ramnes undoubtedly
called a legion. Besides those there were three comes from the same root as that of Romus or
hundred borsemen, called celeres, the same body Romulus, and in like manner that of Tities is con-
as the equites of a later time ; but the legend neg- nected with Titus Tatius. The origin of the third
lects to tell us from what quarter these horsemen name is more doubtful, and was a disputed point
To assist him in the government of the even in antiquity. Most ancient writers derived
people Romulus is said to have selected a number of it from Lucumo, which etymology best agrees with
the aged men in the state, who were called patres, the Etruscan origin of the tribe, as Lucumo was a
or senatores. The council itself, which was called title of honour common to the Etruscan chiefs.
the senatus, originally consisted of one hundred Others suppose it to come from Lucerus, a king of
members; but this number was increased to two Ardea (Paul. Diac. s. v. Lucereses, p. 119, ed.
hundred when the Sabines were incorporated in Müller), a statement on which Niebuhr principally
the state.
In addition to the senate, there was relies for the proof of the Latin origin of the third
another assembly, consisting of the members of the tribe ; but we think with the majority of the best
gentes, which bore the name of comitia curiata, modern writers, that the Luceres were of Etruscan,
because they voted in it according to their division and not of Latin, descent. Each of these tribes
into curiae. To this assembly was committed the was divided into ten curiae, as the legend states;
election of the kings in subsequent times.
but that they derived their names from the thirty
That part of the legend of Romulus which relates Sabine women is of course fabulous. In like man-
to the political institutions which he is said to have ner each curia was divided into ten gentes, which
founded, represents undoubted historical facts. For must be regarded as smaller political bodies, rather
we have certain evidence of the existence of such than as combinations of persons of the same kin-
institutions in the earliest times, and many traces dred. For further information the reader is referred
endured to the imperial period : and the popular to the several articles on these subjects in the Dic-
belief only attempted to explain the origin of ex. tionary of Antiquities.
isting phenomena by ascribing their first establish- RO'MULUS AUGU'STULUS. [AUGUS-
ment to the heroic founder of the state. Thus, TULUS. ]
while no competent scholar would attempt in the RO'MULUS SI'LVIUS. (Silvius. ]
present day to give a history of Romulus ; because, RO'MULUS son of the emperor Maxentius.
even on the supposition that the legend still re- He was nominated colleague, in the consulship, to
tained some real facts, we have no criteria to sepa- his father, whom he predeceased, as we learn from
rate what is true from what is false ; yet, on the medals of consecration still extant, upon which he
other hand, it is no presumption to endeavour to is represented as a boy. [See below. ) The coin
form a conception of the political organisation of which bears the legend M. AUR. ROMULUS. NOBILIS.
Rome in the earliest times, because we can take Cars, is probably spurious. (Eckhel, vol. viii. p.
our start from actually existing institutions, and 59. )
[W. R. ]
trace them back, in many cases step by step, to
remote times. We are thus able to prove that the
legend is for the most part only an explanation
of facts which had a real existence. It would be
out of place here to attempt an explanation of
the early Roman constitution, but a few remarks
are necessary in explanation of the legendary ac-
count of the constitution which has been given
above.
The original site of Rome was on the Palatine
COIN OF ROMULUS, SON OF MAXENTIUS.
bill. On this there was a Latin colony established RO'MULUS, artists. 1. A sculptor of sarco-
at the earliest times, which formed an independent phagi, whose name is found inscribed on one side
On the neighbouring hills there appear to of a splendid sarcophagus in the Villa Medici.
have been also settlements of Sabines and Etrus (Guatuani, Monum. Ined. vol
. i. p. lvii. ; R. Ro-
cung, the former probably on the Quirinal and Cachette, Lettre à M. Schorn, p. 398, 2d ed. )
!
Pag! It
state,
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662
ROSCIUS.
ROSCIUS.
2. Potitius, one of those artists of Roman Gaul, | as of ready money and other valuables. Forth with
whose names have become known to us by means of a bargain was struck between Chrysogonus and the
the inscriptions preserved in the Museum at Lyons. two Roscii ; and the name of Sextus was placed
This artist is designated in the inscription Akti8 on the proscription list, not withstanding an edict of
ARG EXCLUSSOR, which, there is little doubt, Sulla, that none of the proscribed should be pur-
means a maker of silver vases, as R. Rochette has sued after the first of June, B. C. 81. But as the
shown, following the Abbe Greppo, from the use name of Sextus was now on the list, his property
of the word erclusores in this sense, in a passage of was confiscated ; Capito obtained three of the
Augustine. (Ad Psalm. lxvii. 31 ; Du Cange, farms, and the remaining ten were purchased by
8. 7. Exclusor; R. Rochette, Lettre à M. Schurn, Chrysogonus for 2000 denarii, though they were
pp. 441, 442. 2d ed. )
(P. S. ] worth in reali 250 talents ; and Magnus was
ROMUS ('Pwuos). 1. A son of Odysseus and likewise well rewarded for his share in the business.
Circe. (Steph. Byz. 8. v. "Avtela. )
Such a barefaced act of villany excited the utmost
2. The brother of Romulus, who is commonly indignation at Ameria. The decuriones of the
called Remus. (Aelian, V. H. vii. 16. )
town accordingly sent ten of the principal citizens
3. A son of Emathion. (Plut. Romul. 2 ; comp. to Sulla to acquaint him with the real state of the
ROMULUS. )
(L. S. ] case, and to beg that the name of Roscius might be
KOʻSCIA GENS, plebeian, was of considerable erased from the proscription list, in order that his
Antiquity, as we read of a L. Roscius as early as sou might thus regain possession of his hereditary
B. C. 438 (see Roscius, No. 1]; but the name property. Alarmed at the turn that matters were
does not occur again till the last century of the taking, Chrysogonus had an interview with the
republic. None of its members obtained the con- deputation, and pledged his word that their request
sulship during the republic ; but in the imperial should be complied with ; and they, probably more
;
period three persons of this name received this than half-afraid of facing the dictator, were con-
honour. The only surnames of the Roman Roscii tented to receive the promise, and returned home
under the republic are FABATUS and Otho: the without seeing Sulla These half-measures, how.
Roscii at Ameria are distinguished by one or two ever, only exposed the younger Roscius to still
other surnames, which are given below. [Ros- greater peril. The robbers saw that they had no
cius, No. 2. )
security for their property as long as he was alive.
ROSCILLUS, a chief of the Allobroges, who | They therefore laid snares for his life, and he only
deserted from Caesar to Pompey, along with Aegus, escaped the fate of his father by flying to Rome
another chief of the same people. He is spoken of and taking refuge in the house of Caecilia, the
under Argus.
daughter of Metellus Balearicus. Here he was
RO'SCIUS. 1. L. Roscius, a Roman ambas- quite safe from private assassination. Disappointed
sador sent to Fidenae in B. C. 438. He and his of getting rid of him secretly, his enemies resolved
three colleagues were killed by the inhabitants of to murder him judicially. They accordingly bired
Fidenae, at the instigation of Lar Tolumnius, king a certain C. Erucius to accuse him of the murder
of the Veientes. The statues of all four were of liis father, and they paid a sufficient number of
erected in the Rostra at Rome. (Liv. iv. 17 ; Cic.
witnesses to swear to the fact. They felt sure of
Phil, ix. 2 ; Plin. H. N. xxxiv. 6. 8. 11. )
a verdict against the accused, as they did not
2. Sex. Roscius, of Ameria, a town in believe that any person of influence would under-
I'mbria, now Amelia, was accused of the murder take his defence ; and even if he could obtain an
of his father in B. C. 80, and was defended by advocate, they were convinced that his counsel
Cicero in an oration which is still extant, and would not dare, by speaking of the sale of the pro-
which was the first that the orator delivered in a perty, to bring any accusation against the powerful
criminal cause. The following are the circumstances freedman of Sulla. In this, however, they were
under which the prosecution arose. Sex. Roscius disappointed. Cicero, who was burning for dis-
had a father of the same name, who was one of tinction, saw that this was a most favourable op-
the most wealthy citizens of Ameria. The father portunity for gaining glory, and readily undertook
bore an unblemished character, but had for certain the defence. He did not hesitate to attack Chry-
reasons incurred the enmity of two of his relations sogonus with the utmost severity, and so evident
and fellow-townsmen, T. Roscius Magnus and T. was the guilt of the accusers, and so clear the in-
Roscius Capito, who not only hated the person, but nocence of the accused, that the judices had no
coveted the wealth of their neighbour. Sextus alternative left but the acquittal of Roscius. It
frequently visited Rome, where he lived on terms was the first trial for murder that had coine before
of intimacy with Metellus, Servilius, and other the judices since the judicia had been taken from
Roman nobles. On one of these visits to the the equites and restored to the senators by Sulla,
capital he was assassinated near the Palatine baths, and they were unwilling to give to the popular
as he was returning in the evening from a banquet. party such a handle against them as the condemna-
His enemy, Magnus, who was at Rome at the time, tion of Roscius would have supplied. Besides
and who had doubtless hired the assassins, imme- which Sulla allowed the court to exercise an un-
diately despatched a messenger with the news to biassed judgment, and did not interfere for the
Capito at Ameria, but without informing the sake of gratifying the wishes of his favourito.
younger Sextus, who was likewise at Ameria, of Cicero's speech was greatly admired at the time,
the death of his father. Four days afterwards and though at a later period he found fault with it
Chrysogonus, the freedman and favourite of Sulla, himself, as bearing marks of youthful exaggeration,
who was at Volaterrae in Etruria, was likewise it displays abundant evidence of his great oratorical
icquainted with the event. He learnt that the powers. (Comp. Cic. Orat. 30, de off. ii. 14;
property which Roscius had left behind him was Plut. Cic. 3 ; Drumann, Geschichte Roms, vol. v,
considerable, consisting of not less than thirteen pp. 231—244. )
firins, lying for the most part on the Tiber, as well 3. Q. Roscil's, the most celebrated comic actor
## p. 663 (#679) ############################################
ROSCIUS.
ROXANA.
663
at Rome, was a native of Solonium, a small place | Roscius had no right to make terms for himself
in the neighbourhood of Lanuvium. His sister was alone, and that according to the original agreement
inarried to Quintius, whom Cicero defended in B. C. he was entitled to half of the compensation. The
81. (Cic. pro Quint. 24, 25. ) A tale was told, that dispute was referred for arbitration to C. Piso,
in his infancy he was found in the folds of a ser- who did not give any formal decision, but
pent, and that this foreshadowed his future emi. at his recommendation Roscius consented to pay
nence. His extraordinary skill in acting procured Fannius a certain sum of money for the trouble he
him the favour of many of the most distinguished had had, and Fannius, on the other hand, pro-
Roman nobles, and, among others, of the dictator | mised to give Roscius the half of whatever he might
Sulla, who presented him with a gold ring, the receive from Flavius. Fannius now sued Flavius ;
synibol of equestrian rank. Like his celebrated the case came on before the judex C. Cluvilis, a Ro-
contemporary, the tragic actor Acsopus, Roscius man eques, who sentenced Flavius to pay 100,000
enjoyed the friendship of Cicero, who constantly sesterces. According to the statement of Roscius
speaks of him in terms both of admiration and he himself never received any part of this sum
affection, and on one occasion calls him his amures although he was entitled to half of it. Some years
el deliciae. Roscius paid the greatest attention to afterwards, when Flavius was dead, Fannius sued
his art, and obtained excellence in it by the most Roscius for 50,000 sesterces, as the balf of the
careful and elaborate study. It is to this that Horace value of the estate given to Roscius on the death
alludes, when he says (Ep. ii. 1. 82):
of Panurgus, and appealed to the agreement made
Quae gravis Aesopus, quae doctus Roscius egit. " before C. Piso, in support of his claim. The case
came on for trial before the same C. Piso, who now
So careful and assiduous was he in his prepara- acted as judex, and Cicero defended his friend in
tions, that even in the height of his reputation, he an oration, which has come down to us, though
did not venture upon a single gesture in public with the loss of the opening part. The date of the
which he had not previously well considered and oration is doubtful ; we have adopted the ove given
practised at home. But notwithstanding all this by Drumann, who discusses the matter at length
study, no mannerism or affectation appeared in his (Geschichte Roms, vol. v. pp. 346—348). The
acting ; every thing he did was perfectly natural subject of the oration has afforded matter for con-
to the character he represented ; and he himself siderable discussion to modern jurists and scholars.
used to say that decere was the highest excellence (See Unterholzner, Ueber die Rede des Cicero für
of the art. He was considered by the Romans to den Schauspieler R. Roscius, in Savigny's Zeitschrift,
have reached such perfection in his own profession, vol. i. p. 218, &c. ; München, Oralio M. T. C. pro
that it became the fashion to call every one who R. R. C. juridice ca positu, Coloniae, 1829; and
became particularly distinguished in his own art, Schmidt, in his edition of the oration, Lipsiae,
by the name of Koscius. In his younger years 1839. )
Cicero received instruction from Roscius ; and at a 4, 5. Roscn, two brothers, who accompanied
later time he and Roscius often used to try which Crassus on his Parthian expedition. (Plut. Cruss.
of them could express a thought with the greatest 31. )
effect, the orator by his eloquence, or the actor by 6. Roscius, a legate of Q. Cornificius in Africa,
bis gestures. Macrobius, who relates this anec- perished along with his commander, in B. C. 43.
dote, goes on to say that these exercises gave (Appian, B. C. iv. 56. ) (CORNIFICIUS, No. 3. )
Roscius so high an opinion of his art, that he wrote RO'SCIUS, L. AELIANUS. 1. Consul suf-
a work in which he compared eloquence and acting. fectus A. D. 100 (Fasti).
Like Aesopus, Roscius realized an immense fortune 2. Consul A. D. 223, with L. Marius Maximus,
by his profession. Macrobius says that he made in the reign of the emperor Severus (Fasti).
a thousand denarii a day, and Pliny relates that RO'SCIUS, CAEʻLIUS, the legatus of the
his yearly profits were fifty millions of sesterces. twentieth legion, which was stationed in Britain at
lle died in B. c. 62, as Cicero, in his oration for the time of Nero's death, A. D. 68. (Tac. Hist. i.
Archias (c. 8), which was delivered in that year, 60. )
speaks of his death as a recent event. (Cic. de Div. RO'SCIUS REGULUS. (REGULUS. ]
i. 36, ii. 31, de Orat. i. 27-29, 59, 60, ii. 57, 59, ROSIANUS GEMINUS, quaestor of the
iii. 26, 59, de Leg. i. 4, Brut. 84 ; Plut. Cic. 5 ; younger Pliny in his consulship, A. D. 100, is re-
Macrob. Sat. ii, 10 ; Val. Max. viii. 7. § 7 ; Plin. commended by the latter in one of his letters to
H. N. vii. 39. s. 40. ) A scholiast on Cicero gives Trajan (Ep. x. 11. s. 16).
the cognomen Gallus to Q. Roscius, but it does not ROXANA ('Pwędrn), a daughter of Oxyartes
occur elsewhere, as far as we know. (Schol. Bob. the Bactrian. According to Arrian, she fell into
pro Arch. p. 357, ed. Orelli. )
the hands of Alexander on his capture of the hill-
In B. c. 68 Cicero pleaded the cause of his friend fort in Sogdiana, named “the rock," where the
in a civil suit before the judex C. Piso. It appears wife and daughters of Oxyartes had been placed
that a certain C. Fannius Chaerea had a slave of for security ; and the conqueror was so captivated
the name of Panurgus, whom he entrusted to by the charms of Roxana (who appeared to the
Roscius for instruction in his art, un the agreement | Macedonians the most beautiful of all the Asiatic
that whatever profits the slave might acquire should women they had seen, except the wife of Dareius),
be divided between them. Panurgus was murdered that he resolved to marry her – a design which
by one Q. Flavius of Tarquinii, and accordingly an induced Oxyartes, when he heard of it, to come
action was brought against him for damages, by and submit himself to Alexander, B. c. 327 (Arr.
Fannius and Roscius. Before the case came on for Anab. iv. 18—20). The statements of Curtius
trial, Roscius received from Flavius a farm, which (viii. 4), and of Plutarch (Alex. 47), differ in
Fannius valued at 100,000 sesterces : Roscius some points from the above account; but see
inaintained that this farm was simply a compensa-Droysen, Alexander, p. 346. At the time of Alex-
tion for his own loss; but Fannius asserted that ander's death, in B. C. 323, Roxana was far ad-
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664
RUBRIUS.
RUFINUS.
