When the objects of the war had been obtained by a bloodless victory, a minor kind of triumph was granted, in which the general appeared on horseback, dressed in white, and crowned with myrtle, while in his hand he bore a branch of olive. No other living sacrifice was offered but sheep, from the name of which the ceremony was called an ovation.
In consequence of the continual depredations to which the coast of Italy was subject, the Romans commenced the building of a number of vessels, to establish a fleet, taking for their model a Carthaginian vessel, which was formerly stranded on their coast.
Their vessels were of two kinds, naves onerariæ, ships of burden, and naves longæ, ships of war: the former served to carry provisions, &c.: they were almost round, very deep, and impelled by sails.
The ships of war received their name from the number of banks of oars, one above another, which they contained: thus a ship with three banks of oars was called triremis, one with four, quadriremis, &c.; in these, sails were not used.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Assemblies, Judicial Proceedings, and Punishments of the Romans.
The assemblies of the whole Roman people, to give their vote on any subject, were called comitia. There were three kinds, the curiata, centuriata, and tributa.
The comitia curiata were assemblies of the resident Roman citizens, who were divided into thirty curiæ, a majority of which determined all matters of importance that were laid before them, such as the election of magistrates, the enacting of laws and judging of capital causes.
Comitia centuriata were assemblies of the various centuries into which the six classes of the people were divided.