In  the  Comitia  Curiata,  the  people  gave  their  votes,  divided
into  thirty  curias  ;^  and  what  a  majority  of  them,  namely  six-
teen, determined,  was  said  to  be  the  order  of  the  people.  At
first  there  were  no  other  Comitia  but  the  Curiata,  and  therefore
every  thing  of  importance  was  determined  in  them.
The  Comitia  Curiata  were  held,  first  by  the  kings,  and  after-
wards by  the  consuls  and  the  other  greater  magistrates ;  that  is,
they  presided  at  them,  and  nothing  could  be  brought  before  the
people  but  by  them.  They  met  in  a  part  of  the  forum  called
the  coMiTiuM,  where  the  pulpit  or  tribunal  ^"  stood,  whence  the
orators  used  to  harangue  the  people.  It  was  afterwards  called
BosTRA,  because  it  was  adorned  with  the  beaks  of  the  ships

1  a  coenudo  rel  eone-    ft  niii  annieato.  8  Dio.  xnlx.  fin.  poli  apod  Graces  ad,
undo.                              6  Diony.  u.  41. 49.           9  ita  dicta  quod  iia  n-      v&YteTi^wn  "^^^  -<i«Vbni>

2  A.  BeU.  XT.  27.  lir,    7  1.  «.  quibat  enm  jpo*     rum  publicarum  Gur%     oom  «\wA  *  T«^gl(i'£c:«k

f3


66


ROMAN  ANTigUlTIES.
taken  from  the  Antiates,  and  also  Templum,  because  consecrated
by  the  augurs ;  which  ivas  its  usual  name  before  the  Antiates
were  subdued.^    The  Comitium  was  first  covered  the  year  that
Hannibal  came  into  Italy.^    Afterwards  it  was  adorned  with  ^
pillars,  statues,  and  paintings.
