90
Why is it that, when the sacrifice to Hercules takes place, they mention by name no other god, and why is a dog never seen within his enclosure, Cf. Pliny, Natural History, x. 29 (79). as Varro has recorded?
90
Do they make mention of no other god because they regard Hercules as a demigod? But, as someDionysius of Halicarnassus, Roman Antiquities, i. 40. Livy, i. 7. 12. relate, even while he was still on earth, Evander erected an altar to him and brought him sacrifice. And of all animals he contended most with a dog, for it is a fact that this beast always gave him much trouble, Cerberus, for instance. And, to crown all, when Oeonus, Licymnius’s son, had been murdered by the sons of Hippocoön Cf. Apollodorus, ii. 7. 3 with Frazer’s note (L.C.L. vol. i. p. 251). because of a dog, Hercules was compelled to engage in battle with them, and lost many of his friends and his brother Iphicles.
91
Why was it not permitted the patricians to dwell about the Capitoline?
91
Was it because Marcus Manlius, Cf. Life of Camillus, chap. xxxvi. (148 d); Livy, vi. 20. 13-14. while he was dwelling there, tried to make himself king? They say that because of him the house of Manlius was bound by an oath that none of them should ever bear the name of Marcus.
91
Or does this fear date from early times? At any rate, although Publicola Cf. Life of Publicola, chap. x. (102 c-d). was a most democratic man, the nobles did not cease traducing him nor the commoners fearing him, until he himself razed his house, the situation of which was thought to be a threat to the Forum.
92
Why do they give a chaplet of oak leaves to the man who has saved the life of a citizen in time of war? Cf. Life of Coriolanus, chap. iii. (214 e-f); Pliny, Natural History, xvi. 4 (11-14); Polybius, vi. 39. 6; Aulus Gellius, v. 6.
92
Is it because it is easy to find an abundance of oak leaves everywhere on a campaign?
92
Or is it because the chaplet is sacred to Jupiter and Juno, whom they regard as guardians of the city?
