Page:The Ancient City- A Study on the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome.djvu/374

 368 THE EEVOhUTIONS. BOOK IV. excluded no caste, or people. Often, too, the plebeians would make themselves gods, like those of the patrician curies and tribes. Thus king Servius erected an altar in every quarter of the city, so that the multitude might have places to sacrifice ; just as Peisistratus set up Herma3 in the streets and squares of Athens.' Those were the gods of the democracy. The plebeians, pre- viously a multitude without worship, thenceforth had religious ceremonies and festivals. They could pray; this in a society where religion made the dignity of man was a great deal. When once the lower orders had gained these points ; when thoy had among themselves rich men, soldiers, and priests; when they had gained all that gave man a sense of his own worth and strength ; when, in fine, they had compelled the aristocracy to consider them of some ■account, — it was impossible to keep them out of social and political life, and the city could be closed to them no longer. The entry of this inferior class into the city was a revolution, which, from the seventh to the filth century, filled the history of Gieece and Italy. The cfibrts of the people were everywhere successful, but nof everywhere in the same manner, or by the same means. In some cases the people, as soon as they felt themselves to be strong, rose, sword in hand, and forced the gates of the city where they had been forbidden to live. Once masters, they either drove out the nobles and occupied their houses, or contented themselves with proclaiming an equality of rights. This is what happened at Syracuse, at Erythra?, aud at Miletus. In other cases, ou the contrary, the people employed ' Dionysius, IV. 5. Plato, Ilipparchus.