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Dionysius of Halicarnassus · Roman Antiquities §2.64.1-2.64.5

First Five Sacred Divisions and the Vestal Virgins

Passage 155 of 962 · Greek

Summary

Numa divided the sacred legislation into eight divisions; this chunk explains the first five, which were assigned to the curiones, the flamines, the commanders of the celeres, the augurs, and the Vestal Virgins, respectively. He also notes the historical controversies surrounding the Vestal Virgins.

§2.64.1ἀπέδωκε δὲ μίαν μὲν ἱερουργιῶν διάταξιν τοῖς τριάκοντα κουρίωσιν, οὓς ἔφην τὰ κοινὰ §2.64.2θύειν ὑπὲρ τῶν φρατριῶν ἱερά.
He assigned one division of the sacred offices to the thirty curiones, whom I have said perform the common sacrifices on behalf of the curiae.
τὴν δὲ δευτέραν τοῖς καλουμένοις ὑπὸ μὲν Ἑλλήνων στεφανηφόροις, ὑπὸ δὲ Ῥωμαίων φλάμοσιν, οὓς ἐπὶ τῆς φορήσεως τῶν πίλων τε καὶ στεμμάτων, ἃ καὶ νῦν ἔτι φοροῦσι φλάμα καλοῦντες, οὕτω προσαγορεύουσι.
The second division he assigned to those who are called by the Greeks crown-wearers, but by the Romans flamines, whom they thus address on account of their wearing caps and fillets, which they still wear even now, calling them flama.
§2.64.3τὴν δὲ τρίτην τοῖς ἡγεμόσι τῶν κελερίων, οὓς ἔφην ἱππεῖς τε καὶ πεζοὺς στρατευομένους φύλακας ἀποδείκνυσθαι τῶν βασιλέων, καὶ γὰρ οὗτοι τεταγμένας τινὰς §2.64.4ἱερουργίας ἐπετέλουν.
The third division he assigned to the commanders of the celeres, whom I have said were appointed as bodyguards of the kings, serving both as horse and foot; for these too performed certain prescribed sacred offices.
τὴν δὲ τετάρτην τοῖς ἐξηγουμένοις τὰ θεόπεμπτα σημεῖα καὶ διαιροῦσι τίνων ἐστὶ μηνύματα πραγμάτων ἰδίᾳ τε καὶ δημοσίᾳ, οὓς ἀφʼ ἑνὸς εἴδους τῶν θεωρημάτων τῆς τέχνης Ῥωμαῖοι καλοῦσιν αὔγορας, ἡμεῖς δʼ ἂν εἴποιμεν οἰωνοπόλους, ἁπάσης τῆς μαντικῆς παρʼ αὐτοῖς ὄντας ἐπιστήμονας τῆς τε περὶ τὰ οὐράνια καὶ τὰ μετάρσια καὶ §2.64.5τὰ ἐπίγεια.
The fourth division he assigned to those who interpret signs sent by the gods and distinguish of what events they are portents, both in private and in public life; these the Romans, from one branch of the observations of their art, call augurs, but we should call them bird-diviners, they being experts in all kinds of divination among them, both concerning heavenly, atmospheric, and earthly matters.
τὴν δὲ πέμπτην ταῖς φυλαττούσαις τὸ ἱερὸν πῦρ παρθένοις, αἳ καλοῦνται πρὸς αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τῆς θεᾶς ἣν θεραπεύουσιν ἑστιάδες, αὐτὸς πρῶτος ἱερὸν ἱδρυσάμενος Ῥωμαίοις Ἑστίας καὶ παρθένους ἀποδείξας αὐτῇ θυηπόλους·
The fifth division he assigned to the virgins who guard the sacred fire, who are called by them Vestals after the goddess whom they serve; Numa himself was the first to establish a temple of Vesta for the Romans and to appoint virgins as her priestesses.
ὑπὲρ ὧν ὀλίγα καὶ αὐτὰ τἀναγκαιότατα τῆς ὑποθέσεως ἀπαιτούσης ἀναγκαῖον εἰπεῖν. ἔστι γὰρ ἃ καὶ ζητήσεως ἠξίωται παρὰ πολλοῖς τῶν Ῥωμαϊκῶν συγγραφέων κατὰ τὸν τόπον τοῦτον, ὧν οἱ τὰς αἰτίας οὐκ ἐξητακότες ἐπιμελῶς εἰκαιοτέρας ἐξήνεγκαν τὰς γραφάς.
Concerning them, since the subject-matter requires it, it is necessary to say a few words, and those only the most essential; for there are certain matters that have been deemed worthy of inquiry by many of the Roman historians in this connection, of which those who have not diligently investigated the causes have published rather careless accounts.

Notes

  1. 2.64.2τὴν δὲ δευτέραν — The verb `ἀπέδωκε` (assigned) from the preceding section is understood as the common predicate for all subsequent accusative objects: `τὴν δὲ δευτέραν [διάταξιν]` (the second division), and similarly for `τὴν δὲ τρίτην`, `τὴν δὲ τετάρτην`, and `τὴν δὲ πέμπτην`.
  2. 2.64.5τῆς ὑποθέσεως ἀπαιτούσης — A genitive absolute construction expressing cause ("since the subject-matter requires it"), modifying the main verb phrase `ἀναγκαῖον [ἐστὶν] εἰπεῖν` (it is necessary to say).
  3. 2.64.5ὧν οἱ τὰς αἰτίας — The relative pronoun `ὧν` refers back to the antecedent `ἃ` (matters) implied in the preceding clause, functioning as a genitive dependent on `αἰτίας` ("those who have not investigated the causes of them").

Cite this passage

Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Roman Antiquities §2.64.1-2.64.5. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0081.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.64.1-2.64.5

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