of the people appointed a
guardian. If any one died without making a will, his goods devolved on
his nearest relations.
Women could not transact any business of importance without the
concurrence of their parents, husbands, or guardians.
CHAPTER VI.
_Public Rights of Roman Citizens._
The _jus militiae_, was the right of serving in the army, which was at
first peculiar to the higher order of citizens only, but afterwards the
emperor took soldiers not only from Italy and the provinces, but also
from barbarous nations.
The _jus tributorum_ was the payment of a tax by each individual through
the tribes, in proportion to the valuation of his estates.
There were three kinds of tribute, one imposed equally on each person;
another according to his property; and a third exacted in cases of
emergency. There were three other kinds of taxes, called _portorium_,
_decumae_ and _scriptura_.
The _portorium_ was paid for goods exported and imported, the collectors
of which were called portitores, or for carrying goods over a bridge.
The _decumae_ were the tenth part of corn and the fifth part of other
fruit, exacted from the cultivators of the public lands, either in Italy
or without it.
The _scriptura_ was paid by those who pastured their cattle upon the
public lands. The _jus saffragii_ was the right of voting in the
different assemblies of the people.
The _jus honorum_ was the right of being priests or magistrates, at
first enjoyed only by the Patricians. Foreigners might live in the city
of Rome, but they enjoyed none of the rights of citizens; they were
subject to a peculiar jurisdiction, and might be expelled from the city
by a magistrate. They were not permitted to wear the Roman dress.
CHAPTER VII.
_Places of Worship._
_Templum_ was a place which had been dedicated to the worship of some
deity, and consecrated by the augurs.
_AEdes sacrae_ were such as wanted that consecration, which, if they
afterwards received, they changed their names to temples.
_Delubrum_ comprehended several deities under one roof. The most
celebrated temples were the capitol and pantheon.
The capitol or temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, was the effect of a vow
made by Tarquinius Priscus, in the Sabine war. But he had scarcely laid
the foundation before his death. His nephew Tarquin the proud, finished
it with the spoils taken from the neighboring nations.
The structure stood on a high ridge, taking in fo
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