WARFARE OF ANTIQUITY. 23 



chariots, &c., or only the ovation, in which the general went on horseback, 

 that was granted. The solemn procession commenced on the Field of 

 Mars, and went from the Porta Triumphalis over the principal places in 

 the city to the Capitol. The streets were strewn with flowers. Singers 

 and musicians commenced the train ; then came the animals destined for 

 sacrifice, richly adorned ; then the booty captured from the foe, partly 

 carried {pi. II, fg. 4), partly on peculiar trophy-cars (Jig. 5), and the 

 models and names of captured and conquered cities and people on separate 

 tablets (pi. 6,fg. 2, left), in front of which the conquered generals and other 

 captives were led by the lictors, their fasces bound with laurel. After these 

 came the triumphal chariot {fg. 2), or else perhaps an elephant (pi. II, Jig. 3) 

 with a throne, upon which stood the Triumphator, clad in purple robes and 

 bearing a branch of laurel or an ivory sceptre. The chariot was drawn by 

 four white horses, in later times by elephants, and was richly gilt and inlaid 

 with ivory. The friends and family of the Triumphator and many citizens 

 accompanied the chariot, as also the consuls and senators. The legates 

 and war-tribunes surrounded it on horseback. The victorious army, 

 bedecked with laurel twigs and tokens of honor, closed the procession. 



The various punishments wdth the army were very severe, often indeed 

 cruel. To be passed under the yoke (Jig. 1) was a punishment for the 

 whole hostile army when vanquished. The victorious foe had a yoke 

 made of three spears, by striking two upright in the ground and fastening 

 the third across them at top ; through this yoke the conquered must march 

 naked, having first laid down their arms ; the chiefs were led foremost in 

 order of rank, and then came the whole army. 



From the connexion in which the Germans stood with the Romans, some 

 peculiarities in the w^ar customs of the former people may be introduced 

 here. The Germans were a brave and very warlike nation; even the plays 

 of their children were all martial, and the weapon-dance was the youth's 

 greatest delight. This is shown in pi. 12, Jig. 1. The youths either wound 

 in various mazes between outstretched swords and spears, or else ran upon 

 them at full speed and avoided them by dexterous movements of the body. 

 Men and maidens gazed upon the sports, and praised the dexterous and 

 skilful. When the youth attained manhood, he received the right of bear- 

 ino- arms (pi. 12, Jig. 2), the elder of the family bestowing upon him 

 sword and lance, while the mother or sister brought the shield. This free- 

 dom of arms was bestowed in the assembly of the people, so that all were 

 witnesses of the oath taken by the youth to his father and the nation. 

 Before a battle, an oracle was consulted as to the issue (Jig. 3). They 

 betook themselves to the Druid Grove, and the priestess, the druid, or a 

 priest made known to the army the decision of the gods. Only in the last 

 necessity, and when hotly assailed, did the Germans ever engage, unless 

 the druids had prophesied victory. When the combat had once begun, 

 then all took part therein, and a true strife of extermination commenced 

 (Jig. 4) ; even the women seized weapons. 



Of the order of battle and the army movements of the Romans, and how 

 the former was by degrees perfected, we give the following outline. 



499 



