Page:The age of Justinian and Theodora (Volume 1).djvu/122

 Circus in alternate responsions by particular bodies of the people called Demes, whose importance, not merely agonistic, but above all political, renders a special account of them here necessary.

The Demes or factionaries of the Hippodrome occupy the benches at the end of the arena on each side adjacent to the Kathisma, and are called the Veneti and Prasini, that is, the Blues and Greens. These bodies, which are legally incorporated as guilds, consist of the contending parties in the chariot races, and of such others as elect to enroll themselves as their followers, and to wear the colours of the respective sides. Each Deme has a subdivision, or rather, a pendant, to which the colours white and red are attached respectively. The chief or president of each faction is en-*

iii, 76. Later, at least, each Deme used an organ as well; Const. Porph., ''loc. cit.'']*
 * [Footnote: early feature in Byzantine life; Socrates, vii, 23; Jn. Lydus, De Magistr.,