Page:The Ancient City- A Study on the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome.djvu/489

 CHAP. II. THE KOMAN CONQUEST. 483 Roman population during the entire continuance of the republic' Thus at Rome all races were associated and mingled ; there were Latins, Trojans, and Greeks; there were, a little later, Sabines and Etruscans. Of the several hills, the Palatine was the Latin city, after having been the city of Evander. The Capitoline, after having been the dwelling-place of the companions of Hercules, be- came the home of the Sabines of Tatius. The Quirinal received its name from the Sabine Quirites, or from the Sabine god Quirinus. The Coelian hill appears to have been inhabited from the beginning by Etruscans.* Rome did not seem to be a single city; it appeared like a confederation of several cities, each one of which was attached by its origin to another confederation. It was the centre where the Latins, Etruscans, Sabelluns, and Greeks met. Its first king was a Latin ; the second, a Sabine; the fifth was, wo are told, the son of a Greek; the sixth was an Etruscan. Its language was composed of the most diverse ele ments. The Latin predominated, but Sabellian roots were numerous, and more Greek radicals were found in it than in any other of the dialects of Central Italy. As to its name, no one knew to what language that be- longed. According to some, Rome was a Trojan word ; according to others, a Greek word. There are reasons for believing it to be Latin, but some of the ancients thought it to be Etruscan. The names of Roman families also attest a great di- » Dionysius, I. 83. Varro, L. L., V. 42. Virgil, VIII. 358. ways believed that one was Latin, another Sabine, and the third Etruscan.
 * Of llie three names of llic primitive tribes, the ancients al-