Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/357

 B. v. c. in. 3, 4. ITALY. LATIUM. 343 them. Tatius, however, was treacherously assassinated in Lavinium, upon which Romulus, with the consent of the Quirites, reigned alone. After him Numa Pompilius, formerly a subject of Tatius, assumed the government, by the general desire of the people. Such is the most authentic account of the foundation of Rome. 3. However, there also exists another more ancient and mythical account, to the effect that Rome was an Arcadian colony planted by Evander. He entertained Hercules when driving the oxen of Geryon, and being informed by his mother Nicostrata, (who was skilled in the art of prophecy,) that when Hercules should have completed his labours it was fore-ordained that he should be enrolled amongst the gods ; he informed him of the matter, consecrated to him a grove, and offered sacrifice to him after the Grecian mode ; a sacri- fice which is continued in honour of Hercules to this day. The Roman historian Co3lius is of opinion that this is a proof that Rome is a Grecian colony, the sacrifice to Hercules after the Grecian mode having been brought over from their father- land. The Romans also worship the mother of Evander under the name of Carmentis, 1 considering her one of the nymphs. 4. Thus then the Latini originally were few in number, and for the most part under no subjection to the Romans; but afterwards, being struck by the valour of Romulus and the kings who succeeded him, they all submitted. But the jEqui, 2 the Volsci, the Hernici ; and before them the Rutuli, the aborigines, the Rhaeci, together with certain of the the religion of ancient Italy, although later traditions represent them as having been introduced into Italy from Arcadia. Two of the Cam en se were Antevorta and Postvorta; the third was Carmenta or Carmentis, a prophetic and healing divinity, who had a temple at the foot of the Capitoline hill, and altars near the Porta Carmentalis. The traditions which assigned a Greek origin to her worship at Rome, state that her original name was Nicostrata, and that she was called Carmentis from her prophetic powers. (Serv. ad ^En. viii. 51, 336; Dionys. i. 15,32.) According to these traditions, she was the mother of Evander, the Arca- dian, by Hermes; and after having endeavoured to persuade her son to kill Hermes, she fled with him to Italy, where she gave oracles to the people and to Hercules. She was put to death by her son at the age of 110 years, and then obtained divine honours. Dionys. i. 31, &c. 2 This name is written in Strabo sometimes Ancoi, sometimes Afaovoi the Latin writers also named them differently, ^Equi, JEcani, ^Equicoli, &c]
 * The Camenae, says Dr. Smith, were prophetic nymphs, and belonged to