Page:The Ancient City- A Study on the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome.djvu/247

 CUAP. X. Tni5 WAGISTKACT. 241 Among the nine avchons the one called king was es]K'ci:illy a religions chief; but each of Iiis colleagues had some sacerdotal funcdon to fulfil, some sacrifice to offer to the gods.' The Greeks had a gcneial expression to designate magistrates; they said ol i" itlei, — which signified, literally, those who arc to accomjilisli the sacrifice;' an old expression, indicating the idea that was enter- tained of the magistrate in early times. Pindar says of these personages that, Ly the offerings which they make to the sacred fire, they assure the safety of the city. At Rome the first act of (ho consul was to offer a sacrifice in the forum. Victims were brought to the public square; when the pontiff had declared them worthy of being offered, the consul immolated them with his own hand, while a herald enjoined a leligious silence upon the multitude, and a flute-phiyer sounded the sacred air.^ A few days later, the consul repaired to Lavinium, whence the Roman penates had come, and offered another sacrifice. When we examine the character of the magistrate among the ancients with a little attention, we see how slightly he resembles the ciiief of state of modern societies. Priesthood, justice, and command are con- founded in his ]>erson. lie represents the city, which is a religious association, as much, at least, as a political one. He has in his hands the auspices, the rites, ' rollux, VIII. ch. IX. Lycurgus (coll. Didot), t. II. p. 3G3. » Tliucy.lides, I. 10; II. 10; III. 3G; IV. 05. Comp. Herod- otus, I. lo3; III. IS; iEscliylus, Pers., 204; Agam., 1202; Eurijiides, Track., 238. ^ Cicero, De Lege Agr., II. 34. Livy, XXI. G3. Macrobius, III. 3. 16