The Ancient City: A Study of the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome (Illustrated)

The sun, for example, was called in one place Hercules (the glorious); in another, Phoebus (the shining); and still again Apollo (he who drives away night or evil); one called him Hyperion (the elevated Being); another, Alexicacos (the beneficent); and in the course of time groups of men, who had given these various names to the brilliant luminary,

We can easily understand the idea that inspired this system of construction. The walls are raised around the hearth to isolate and defend it, and we may say, as the Greeks said, that religion taught men to build houses. In this house the family is master and proprietor; its domestic divinity assures it this right. The house is consecrated by the pe

The other consequence is this: The law, which before had been a part of religion, and was consequently the patrimony of the sacred families, was now the common property of all the citizens. The plebeian could plead in the courts. At most, the Roman patrician, more tenacious or more cunning than the Eupatrid of Athens, attempted to conceal the legal

At first it had established domestic law and the government of the gens; afterwards it had established civil laws and municipal government. The state was closely allied with religion; it came from religion, and was confounded with it.

have accomplished it with the aid of the gods. I call to witness the goddess Mother, the black earth, whose landmarks I have in many places torn up, the earth, which was enslaved, and is now free.” In doing this, Solon had accomplished a considerable revolution. He had put aside the ancient religion of property, which, in the name of the immovable

Their city ( urbs) might remain standing, but the state ( civitas) had perished.

We must not picture to ourselves the city of these ancient ages as an agglomeration of men living mingled together within the enclosure of the same walls. In the earliest times the city was hardly the place of habitation; it was the sanctuary where the gods of the community were; it was the fortress which defended them, and which their presence san

Those were the gods of the democracy.

You separate yourself from other citizens; you have no friends; your fellow-men are nothing to you; you live solely for yourself and yours.