[309] Ananke (Ανάγκη) personifies, like the Latin Fatum, the idea, that in every event which happens, there is an unalterable necessity, to which not only human beings, but even the gods are subject.
[310] By the famous mural paintings. See Mart. Ep. II, 14. Ill, 20, etc.
[311] Septa. See Mart. Ep. II, 14; IX, 59.
[312] The Centuria. Even under the kings, the Romans were divided into five different classes, since the part taken by each individual in government affairs, especially concerning taxes and military service, depended on the amount of his property. Each of these classes consisted of a certain number of centurias, for instance, the first class contained eighty, the fifth thirty, etc. Centuria was the name originally given to a military division of 100 men, then to a certain number of citizens, from whose midst such a military organization could be formed. These centuries—in a civil sense—voted on public affairs in the comita centuriata (assembly of the centuries) each century having one vote.
[313] Gay booths. See Mart, Ep. IX, 59, v. I:
“Mamurra many hours does vagrant tell,
I’ th’ shops, where Rome her richest ware does sell.”
The same epigram describes the goods to be purchased in these booths; slaves, table-covers, ivory for table legs, semicircular dinner-couches (called Sigma from their shape resembling the old Greek C) Corinthian brass (a mixture of gold, silver, and copper, very popular in those days) crystal goblets, vasa murrhina, chased silver dishes, gems, jewels, etc., etc.
[314] Wrestling or throwing the discus. Physical exercises of all kinds were highly esteemed by the Romans. Racing, wrestling, and throwing the discus (a flat, circular piece of stone or iron) were specially popular. See Hor. Od. I. 8 (saepe disco, saepe trans finem jaculo nobilis expedito) where the exercises in the Campus Martius are mentioned.
[315] Masthlion’s skill. See Mart Ep. V, 12: