DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.786#0040
24 CERVETRI. [chap, xxxiii.
exercises and horse-racing in honour of the slain ; which
they continued to observe in the time of Herodotus.1
On the expulsion of Tarquinius Superbus from Rome, he
and his two sons took refuge in Caere,2 probably on account
of his family connections there; but it is not recorded that
this city took part in Porsenna's expedition to reinstate
the exiled prince. Unlike Veii, Fidenae, Falerii, and other
cities in this part of Etruria, Caere, though but twenty-
seven miles from Rome, seems to have been for ages on
friendly terms with that city.3 When, in the year 365,
Rome was attacked by the Gauls, Caere opened her gates
and gave refuge to the Flamen Quirinalis, and Vestal
Virgins, and eventually restored them in safety to their
home.4 Nay, we are told that the Caerites attacked the
retreating Gauls, laden with the spoil of Rome, routed
them, and recovered aU the booty they were bearing
away.5 For these services the senate decreed that the
Caerites should receive the hospitium publicum, or be
admitted into the most intimate relations with the Roman
people6—in fact, they received the full privileges of
Roman citizens, save the suffrage.7 The origin of our
1 Herod. I. 166,167. more or less pure to a late period.
2 Liv. I. 60. Dionysius (IV. pp. 276, Cf. Millingen, Ann. Inst. 1834, p. 43.
279) however, asserts that it was to 4 Liv. V. 40. Strabo, V. p. 220. Val.
Gabii he fled, where his son Sextus was Max. I. i. 10. Cf. Plut. Camil.; Flor.
king. Livy says it was Sextus alone I. 13. See also an inscription in the
who went to Gabii. Vatican, given by Gruter, p. 492, 7, and
3 This fraternity and intimate con- Muratori, p. 172,4.
nection were probably owing to the
Pelasgic origin of Csere, and the con-
sequent want of a complete sympathy
with the Etruscans. Niebuhr (I. p.
386) was even inclined to the opinion
that Rome was a mere colony of Csere—
an opinion which he had at first held, 5 Strabo, loc. cit.
but afterwards modified. Lepsius (Ann.
VIDEBENT CAPIXOLIVM
VESTALES CAERE DEDVXIT
QVI E1TVS SOLLEMNES NE
EENTVE CVBAI SIBI HABVIT
VENEBATA SACEA ET VIRGINES
EXIT
v. V. 50. Strabo, loc. cit.
Inst., 1836, p. 203) thinks that the Pe- 7 This condition became proverbial,
lasgic population of Csere was preserved and what had originally been conferred
exercises and horse-racing in honour of the slain ; which
they continued to observe in the time of Herodotus.1
On the expulsion of Tarquinius Superbus from Rome, he
and his two sons took refuge in Caere,2 probably on account
of his family connections there; but it is not recorded that
this city took part in Porsenna's expedition to reinstate
the exiled prince. Unlike Veii, Fidenae, Falerii, and other
cities in this part of Etruria, Caere, though but twenty-
seven miles from Rome, seems to have been for ages on
friendly terms with that city.3 When, in the year 365,
Rome was attacked by the Gauls, Caere opened her gates
and gave refuge to the Flamen Quirinalis, and Vestal
Virgins, and eventually restored them in safety to their
home.4 Nay, we are told that the Caerites attacked the
retreating Gauls, laden with the spoil of Rome, routed
them, and recovered aU the booty they were bearing
away.5 For these services the senate decreed that the
Caerites should receive the hospitium publicum, or be
admitted into the most intimate relations with the Roman
people6—in fact, they received the full privileges of
Roman citizens, save the suffrage.7 The origin of our
1 Herod. I. 166,167. more or less pure to a late period.
2 Liv. I. 60. Dionysius (IV. pp. 276, Cf. Millingen, Ann. Inst. 1834, p. 43.
279) however, asserts that it was to 4 Liv. V. 40. Strabo, V. p. 220. Val.
Gabii he fled, where his son Sextus was Max. I. i. 10. Cf. Plut. Camil.; Flor.
king. Livy says it was Sextus alone I. 13. See also an inscription in the
who went to Gabii. Vatican, given by Gruter, p. 492, 7, and
3 This fraternity and intimate con- Muratori, p. 172,4.
nection were probably owing to the
Pelasgic origin of Csere, and the con-
sequent want of a complete sympathy
with the Etruscans. Niebuhr (I. p.
386) was even inclined to the opinion
that Rome was a mere colony of Csere—
an opinion which he had at first held, 5 Strabo, loc. cit.
but afterwards modified. Lepsius (Ann.
VIDEBENT CAPIXOLIVM
VESTALES CAERE DEDVXIT
QVI E1TVS SOLLEMNES NE
EENTVE CVBAI SIBI HABVIT
VENEBATA SACEA ET VIRGINES
EXIT
v. V. 50. Strabo, loc. cit.
Inst., 1836, p. 203) thinks that the Pe- 7 This condition became proverbial,
lasgic population of Csere was preserved and what had originally been conferred