Dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

CASTRA. CASTRA. 249
stones, into a mound (agger), on the summit of towards the Porta Praetoria or towards the legions
which a strong palisade of wooden stakes (sudes, and the Porta Decumana? On the reply to this
valli) was fixed forming the rampart-( Vallum s. question, which can be answered from conjecture
Valluss - -Xpap). We can scarcely doubt that only, depends the solution of the problem as to
the depth of the ditch, together with the height which was the Porta Principalis dextrae and' the
and breadth of the agger, were, under ordinary P. P. sinistra. In like manner we cannot ascertain
circumstances, fixed; but the measurements in- on which side of the Praetorium the Quaestorinmn
cidentally mentioned in isolated passages do not was placed. But these are matters of small moment.
perfectly accord with each other. Among the The above are the most important omissions in
works at Dyrrhachium (Caes. B. C. iii. 63) we the description of Polybius. Our limits will not
read of a-ditch:15 feet deep, and a vallum 10 feet permit us to do more than simply to indicate one
high and 10 feet broad; in the war against the important point where a certain degree of amBellovaci and other Gaulish tribes we find Caesar biguity in his phraseology has given rise to doubt,
(B. G. viii. 9) fortifying his camp with a double discussion, and an irreconcilable difference of opiditch, 15 feet deep, with perpendicular sides nion. After detailing the arrangements adopted
(directis lateribus), and a vallum 1]2 feet high, on when two consular armies encamp together, he
the top of which was a breast-work (loriculas) and adds these remarkable words —eOav Be Xcopls r'
numerous towers three stories high connected with iAXea LE OanvT'cos, 7rV 8' a yop&Y, Keal'b Traestfo10,
each other by bridges, the sides of these bridges ical Tb vpar'i)ylov, tcLorov TcO8aca v',v bvowr.0rpanext to the enemy being protected by a breast- ToEs'cov.'. Tlaking this sentence by itself, if the
work of fascines (viminee loricula). Both of these, text be pure, and if the word o'c-pa oror5eov, be
however, as well as several others which we might rendered, as apparently it must be rendered,
quote, must be regarded as special cases. The legions, then we should be led to the conclusion
practice of a later period is, as we shall see below, that in a single camp, the Praetorium, the Quaestomore clearly defined by Hyginus and others. rium and the Foruml were all situated somewhere
6. Neither the number nor the names of the about the middle of the Via Quintanac; and this
openings in the vallum are given. We have conclusion Schelius, one of the most acute and
abundant evidence to prove that there were four: learned writers on the military affairs of the Ro-(1) Ports Principalis dextra arnd (2) Porta mans, has actually adopted. This, however, is so
Principalis sinistra at the two extremities of the completely at variance with the whole previous
wide street called Principica; (3) Porta Praectoria narrative of the historian who occupies himself
s. Extraordinaria, so called from being situated on from the commencement with a single consular
that side of the camp nearest to the prcaetoritu7n camp, and lays down the site of the praetorium,
and in the immediate vicinity of the quarters of as we have done above, in a manner so clear as
the extrorldincarii; (4) Porta Decumana, so called to admit of no cavil, the whole construction, in
from being situated on that end where the tenth fact, depending upon the spot thus assigned to the
turmae and tenth maniples in each division were praetorium, that we are driven to malke choice of
quartered. This gate was also called Pcrta Qzzaes- one of these alternatives, either that there is a
toria, in consequence, it would seem, of the Quaes- corruption lurking ill the text, or that Polybius is
torizsm and the Foriuzt having been at one time here alluding to some peculiar expedient which
placed in its vicinity, and here unquestionably was resorted to when two consular armies enstood the Quaestoriursm in the camp of Hyginus, as camped beside each other, but were not actually
we shall see below. Festus likewise has the gloss included within the lines of a single camp. For a
"Quintana appellatur porta in castris post praeto- full and fair examination of this and of other dif.
rium, ubi rerum utensilium forum sit," and from ficulties which suggest themselves upon a close cxQuintana in the sense of Forumnz comes the modern amination of Polybius and an impartial review of
Canteen. The perplexity caused by these state- the chief arguments adduced by contending critics,
ments has induced some critics to reverse the posi- the student may consult a tract entitled " Polybii
tions of the Porte Praetoria and the Port De.. Castroruin Romanorum formane- interpretatio, scripcueancza as marked in our plan; but this alteration sit G. F. Rettig," 4to. Hannov. 1828.
will give rise to difficulties still more serious, as We now proceed to notice various particulars conmay be seen from consulting Polybius and the nected with the internal discipline of the camp.
authorities referred to at the end of this paragraph; The Catop Oath/.- When an army encamped for
for we find it expressly stated that the Porse De- the first time, the tribunes administered an oath
cuman2e was on that side of the camp most remote to each individual quartered or employed within
from the enemy (abs tergo castrorumc; aversa ces- its limits, including: slaves as well as freemen, to
tr-ot-ura; deeumana m.axime petebatur aversa iosti the effect that he would steal nothing out of the
etJfigientibus tutior), leading out, as will be seen camp, but if he chanced to find any property that
from the construction, in the direction from which he would bring it to the tribunes. We must supwood, water, and other necessary supplies would pose that the solemn promise being once made, was
be most easily and securely provided. (Liv. xl. considered as binding during the whole campaign,
27, iii. 5, x. 32, xxxiv. 47; Tacit. Ann. i. 66, iv. for it would have been impossible to have repeated.30; Festus, s. vv. Praetoria porta, Priscspalis, a ceremony so tedious at the close of each march.
Quintana; Sueton. Ner. 26.) D: istrilbution of Duty among the QOfiercs. - In each
We can scarcely doubt that the Portae must legion the tribunes divided themselves into three
have been always defended by barriers of some sections of two each, and each section in turn unkind; but when special precautions were required dertook for two months the superintendence of all
they were closed by regular gates defended by matters connected with the camp. It is not imtowers (portisfores altioresque turres imposuit, Caes. probable that one tribune in each section assumed
-B. G. viii. 9). the chief command upon alternate days, or perhaps
7. In which direction did the Praetorium face? during alternate months, and hence Polybius gene