50 HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



force from her motlier's arms, and covered with a veil. She was then 

 conducted by three boys with torches, and escorted by relatives and friends 

 to the house of the bridegroom. Here she smeared the door-posts with 

 grease to prevent evil enchantments, and was then lifted by the attendants 

 over the threshold. She carried from home a distaff, with spindle and wool, 

 and received on entering the keys of the house, fire, and water. Then 

 followed the festive entertainment, accompanied with singing and dancing. 

 Nuts were scattered among the people. On the next day followed a thank- 

 offering, by the newly-espoused, to the Lares or Penates (household gods). 



Divorces were at all times permitted on the part of the husband ; but in 

 the early ages, owing to the strict mode of living, seldom occurred. 

 Under the emperoi-s divorces frequently took place for the most frivolous 

 reasons, on both sides. 



The festivals of the Eomans were partly celebrated by private families, 

 partly by the whole people. The public games ranked among them ; 

 their primary and original importance lay in their religious significance, 

 but by degrees they changed their character entirely. We notice some ol 

 the principal sports. 



2. The Liidi Circens&s. These are said to have been instituted by 

 Romulus in honor of the god Consus, though they took their name from 

 the Circus Maximus^ built by Tarquinius Priscus, who ordered them 

 to be celebrated in this place. The procession marched from the Capitol, 

 through the market, to the Circus. Tlie youth occupied the front, some 

 on foot, others mounted ; then followed the chariots ; after these, the 

 gladiators, cithara and fiute-players, buffoons, jugglers, the band of music, 

 and, finally, persons having charge of the sacrifice, bearing golden and 

 silver vessels and the images of the gods, in splendid carriages or frames. 

 Before the opening of the games, sacrifices were made by the magistrates 

 and priests. The contests which followed consisted of races on horses and 

 in chariots, gymnastic exercises in the style of the Greeks, various warlike 

 performances on foot and horseback, and combats of beasts, in which the 

 animals either fought alone, or with gladiators. These latter were either 

 volunteers or condemned criminals. Finally, representations of naval 

 battles took place. 



The circus had room for 150,000 persons, or, according to others, 

 385,000. On the one side were the lists {carceres) with openings {ostia) 

 from which the chariots received the signal to start. Through the middle 

 extended a strong wall {spina). It was four feet high, and ornamented 

 with statues and designs suited to the place. The course encompassed this 

 wall, at each end of which arose three pyramidal pillars {metm). 



2. Ludi Gladiatorii.)thQ games of the gladiators. These were originally 

 held in honor of the distinguished dead, and took place at their obsequies. 

 Afterwards they became public amusements, given on certain solemn 

 occasions at the expense of the state or of individuals, in amphitheatres 

 built for the purpose. The gladiators were generally slaves, prisoners, and 

 criminals ; but freemen, too, for money would take their place. Under 

 the emperors these games reached a fearful eminence. During the 

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