Smith, William: A smaller dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities (London, 1871)

ACISCULUS.

4

ACTA.

the mode of wearing it, is illustrated by the
following Persepolitan figures.

Acinacee, Persian Sword. (Frum bnt relicfa at Ferscpohs.)

ACISCULUS. [Ascia.]

ACLIS, a kind of dart with a leathern
thong attached to it. [Amentum.]

ACROAMA (aicooafia), which properly
means any thing heard, was the name given
to a concert of players on different musical
instruments, and also to an interlude per-
formed during the exhibition of the public
games. The word is also applied to the
actors and musicians who were employed to
amuse guests during an entertainment, and
is sometimes used to designate the anagnostae.
[Anagnostes.]

ACROLITHI (iicpoAiSoO, statues, of which
the extremities only were of marble, and the
remaining part of the body of wood either
gilt or covered with drapery.

ACROPOLIS (axpoTroAts). In almost all
Greek states, which were usually built upon
a hill, rock, or some natural elevation, there
was a castle or a citadel, erected upon the
highest part of the rock or hill, to which the
name of Acropolis, higher or upper city, was
given. Thus we read of an acropolis at
Athens, Corinth, Argos, Messene, and many
other places. The Capitolium at Rome an-
swered the same purpose as the Acropolis in
the Greek cities; and of the same kind were
the tower of Agathoeles at Utica, and that of
Antonia at Jerusalem.

ACROSTOLIUM. [Nayis.]

ACROTERIUM (aKpwnjpio»), signifies the
extremity of any thing, and was applied by
the Greeks to the extremities of the prow of
a vessel faKpocrToAioi'), which were usually

taken from a conquered vessel as a mark of
victory : the act of doing so was called dxp<o-
Tijpiafeii'. In architecture it signifies, 1.
The sloping roof of a building. 2. The pedi-
ment. 3. The pedestals for statues placed
on the summit of a pediment. In sculpture
it signifies the extremities of a statue, as
wings, feet, hands, &c.

ACTA. (1) The public acts and orders of
a Roman magistrate, which after the expira-
tion of his office were submitted to the senate
for approval or rejection. Under the empire,
all the magistrates when entering upon their
office on the 1st of January swore approval
of the acts of the reigning emperor.—(2)
Acta Forexsia were of two kinds: first,
those relating to the government, as leges,
plebiscita, edicta, the names of all the magis-
trates, &c, which formed part of the tabulae
publicae; and secondly, those connected with
the courts of law. — (3) Acta Militaria,
contained an account of the duties, numbers,
and expenses of each legion, and were pro-
bably preserved in the military treasury
founded by Augustus.—(4) Acta Senatus,
called also Commextarii Senatus and Acta
Patrum, contained an account of the various
matters brought before the senate, the opi-
nions of the chief speakers, and the decision
of the house. By command of Julius Caesar
they were published regularly every day as
part of the government gazette. Augustus
forbade the publication of the proceedings of
the senate, but they still continued to be pre-
served, and one of the most distinguished
senators was chosen by the emperor to com-
pile the account.—(S) Acta Diurna, a ga-
zette published daily at Rome by the autho-
rity of the government, during the later times
of the republic and under the empire, cor-
responding in some measure to our news-
papers. They were also called Acta Publica,
Acta Urbana, Acta Eemm Urbanarum, Acta
Popiili, and sometimes simply Acta or Diurna.
They contained, 1. A list of births and
deaths in the city, an account of the money
paid into the treasury from the provinces,
and every thing relating to the supply of
corn. 2. Extracts from the Acta Forensia.
3. Extracts from the Acta Senatus. 4. A
court circular, containing an account of
the births, deaths, festivals, and movements
of the imperial family. 5. An account of
such public affairs and foreign wars as the
government thought proper to publish. G.
Curious and interesting occurrences, such as
prodigies and miracles, the erection of new
edifices, the conflagration of buildings, fune-
rals, sacrifices, a list of the various games,
and especially curious tales and adventures,
with the names of the parties.