Page:The history of Rome. Translated with the author's sanction and additions.djvu/216

196 the Greeks is supported by the fact that the wine-festival (Vinalia), i. e. the festival of opening the casks, which subsequently fell on the 23rd April, was celebrated in honour of Father Iovis, not in honour of the wine-god of more recent times who was borrowed from the Greeks, Father Liber. The very ancient legend which represents Mezentius, king of Cære, as levying a wine-tax from the Latins or the Rutuli, and the various versions of the widely-spread Italian story which affirms that the Celts were induced to cross the Alps in consequence of their coming to the knowledge of the noble fruits of Italy, especially of the grape and of wine, are indications of the pride of the Latins in their glorious vine, the envy of all their neighbours. A careful system of vine-husbandry was early and generally inculcated by the Latin priests. In Rome the vintage did not begin until the supreme priest of the community, the Flamen Dialis, had granted permission for it, and had himself made a beginning by breaking off a cluster of grapes with his own hands; in like manner the ritual law of Tusculum forbade the sale of new wine, until the priest had proclaimed the festival of opening the casks. The early prevalence of the culture of the vine is likewise attested not only by the general adoption of winelibations in the sacrificial ritual, but also by the ordinance of the Roman priests promulgated as a law of King Numa, that men should present in libation to the gods no wine obtained from uncut grapes; just as, to introduce the beneficial practice of drying the grain, they prohibited the offering of grain undried.

The culture of the olive was of later introduction, and certainly was first brought to Italy by the Greeks. The olive is said to have been first planted in the countries of the western Mediterranean towards the close of the second century of the city; and this view accords with the fact that the olive-branch and the olive occupy in the Roman ritual a place very subordinate to the juice of the vine. The esteem in which both noble trees were held by the Romans is shown by the rearing of a vine and of an olive-tree in the middle of the Forum, not far from the Curtian lake.

The principal fruit tree planted was the nutritious fig, which was probably a native of Italy. The legend of the origin of Rome wove its threads closely around the old