In what year did the Saxons, invited by the defenceless Britons, first land in Britain?-By whom was Venice founded?-In what year ?—On what condition did Attila finally make peace with the Romans?-What terminated the empire of the Huns?—In what year was the kingdom of Kent founded by Hengist ?-Who was Odoacer? In what year did he take Rome, and terminate the western empire?-How long had that empire continued from the battle of Actium ?

SECTION XVII.

MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS.

What is Chronology?-What causes may be assigned for its uncertainty ?-When were the laws of Athens first committed to writing?-When and by whom was the epoch of the Olympiads established?-How, before this time, did the Greeks and Romans designate the year?

On what are the various systems of chronology founded?-Why is the year 46 B.C. called the Year of Confusion?-Was the year, as settled by Julius Cæsar, too long or too short?-In what year, and by whom was the Julian calendar reformed?-How?-What is the reckoning by it now called?-By what nations is it still used? -In what year was the new style introduced into England? How were events, that happened between the 1st of January and 25th of March, dated during the latter half of the last century? Why?-How did the Romans divide the month? *-How did they reckon the days?Their city was founded, according to them, on the twelve calends of May, on what day, according to our mode of

*See Appendix, article Calends.

reckoning?-Cæsar was killed on the Idus of March: on what day?—On what day of March does the sixth idus fall? The battle of Canna was fought on the 21st of May on what day according to the Romans?-Cicero considered the 5th of December as his fortunate day: what was it called at Rome?—At what different times did the day begin with the various ancient nations ? *— What happened in Greece in the third year of the seventysecond Olympiad?—What in the first year of the ninetyfourth Olympiad ?-What befel Rome on the sixteen calends of August A.U.C. 364 ?

* See Appendix, article Day.

APPENDIX.

TABLE

OF

THE PRINCIPAL OFFICES, WEIGHTS, MEASURES, &c.

MENTIONED IN

ANCIENT HISTORY.

EPILE, a Roman magistrate, so called from his care of the public buildings (ades). The ædiles were at first two in number, and elected from the plebeian orders. They inspected the weights and measures, prevented frauds in trade, and punished persons guilty of open disorder or licentiousness in the streets. Afterwards two others were added from the patrician orders, called Curule ædiles: they regulated the erection and repair of all buildings, preserved the streets from obstacles and nuisances of any kind, constructed roads and bridges, kept order at the public games, and were judges of cases relating to the sale and transfer of estates. To these two others, called Cereal ædiles, were added by Julius Cæsar, to inspect the public granaries, and regulate the markets for corn.

AGORA, a place in Grecian towns, which, like the forum at Rome, served equally for the purpose of a market, and for a general meeting for public debates.

AGRARIAN LAW, a law which enforced the equal distribution of all the lands gained by conquest among the Roman people. It was introduced at Rome at three different times; in the year 484, B.C. by the consul Sp. Cassius Vicellinus; in the following year by the tribune Licinius Stolo, and in the year 132 by the tribune Tiberius Gracchus: at each introduction this law occasioned great dissensions and tumults, and it at last proved fatal to the freedom of Rome under Julius Cæsar.

ALTIS, an inclosure near Olympia, consecrated to the cele

bration of the Olympic games. The statues of the Olympic conquerors were placed there.

AMPHICTYONIC COUNCIL, a celebrated council, originally consisting of twelve persons of the highest repute for wisdom, whose office it was to determine all matters of difference which might exist between the various states of Greece. Their decisions were considered sacred and inviolable, and were even enforced by arms. In the most celebrated periods of Greek history, the Amphictyons were about thirty in number; they generally met twice in the year at Delphi, but occasionally assembled at Thermopylæ.

AMPHORA, the chief liquid measure among the Romans; nearly nine gallons English.

ANCILIA, shields of Mars. There were twelve; eleven of which were made to secure the possession of the twelfth, which was supposed to have fallen from heaven in the reign of Numa, and on the preservation of which the fate of the empire depended.

ANTHESTERION, the sixth month in the Athenian year, corresponding with our December.

APOTHEOSIS, a ceremony by which the ancients raised their kings and heroes to the rank of gods.

ARCHON, the chief magistrate of the Athenian commonwealth. He was at first elected for life, then for ten years, and finally for one.

*

AREOPAGUS, the supreme court of judicature in Athens.

ARISTEIA, honours bestowed among the Greeks, on those who had distinguished themselves by superior merit in a battle. AROURA, a measure among the Greeks, containing 722 square feet: it was half the plethron.

As, or LIBRA, the principal Roman weight. It was equal to nearly twelve ounces avoirdupois.

As, or LIBELLA, a Roman coin, sometimes of silver, but generally of brass; worth something more than three farthings. ATHENEA, festivals celebrated at Athens in honour of Mi

nerva.

ATHENEUM, a building at Athens, sacred to Minerva, where the poets, philosophers, and rhetoricians generally declaimed, and repeated their compositions.

When the office became annual, its duties were divided among nine persons, who all bore the title of archon; but differed in dignity and function: one, who was called simply the archon, principally represented the magistracy of the state, and the year was designated by his name. The second in rank had the title of king: he was the head of the religion of the commonwealth. The third was called polemarch; and was originally chief in military affairs. The other six had the common title of thesmotheta, and presided as judges in the ordinary courts of justice.