A complete dictionary of the Greek and Roman antiquities explaining the obscure places in classic authors and ancient historians relating to the religion, mythology, history, geography and chronology of the ancient Greeks and Romans, their ... rites and customs, laws, polity, arts and engines of war : also an account of their navigations, arts and sciences and the inventors of them : with the lives and opinions of their philosophers / compiled originally in French ... by Monsieur Danet ; made English, with the addition of very useful mapps.

FACTIO,

Factions distinguished by Colours, Gruter in his Inscriptions mentions four chief Factions; viz. Russatam, the Red; Prasinam, the Green; Venetam, the Blue; Al∣batam, the White. 'Tis thought that the An∣cients intended thereby, to represent the four Seasons of the Year, when Nature puts on new Cloaths; each Faction or Troop of Horse representing one of the Seasons with his Co∣lour: The Green represented the Spring; the Red, the Summer; the Blue, the Autumn; and the white the Winter, covered with Snow and Ice. Domitianus says, Suetonius added to these four Factions, the Gold and the Purple, i. e. two new Troops, who went by the name of their Colours.

These Factions in the Games, grew some∣times so hot one against the other, that they came to Blows. Zonoras tells us, that at Bizan∣tium in Justinian's time, two Factions concei∣ved so factious an emulation one against the other, that forty thousand Men of both sides were killed on the spot.

Caligula took a great fancy for the green Colour, and had his Horse Incitatus put among them.