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

208 CISTA. CIVITAS.
times the contests between two parties broke out In the representations of the Dionysian procesinto open violence and bloody quarrels, until at sions, which frequently form the subject of paintlast the disputes which originated in the circus, ings on ancient vases, women carrying cistae are
had nearly lost the Emperor Justinian his crown. constantly introduced; they are usually of an ob(Gibbon, c. 40.) long form, and thus differ completely from the
II. LUDus TR.OJAE, a sort of sham-fight, said cistae used in the Roman comitia. From one
to have been invented by Aeneas, performed by of these paintings, given by Millin in his Peinsyoung men. of rank on horseback (Tacit. Ann. xi. tures de icases Antiques, the following woodcut is
1), often exhibited by Augustus and succeeding taken.
emperors (Suet. Aug. 43, Nero, 7), which is described by Virgil (Aer. v. 553, &c.).
III. PUGNA EQUESTRIS ET PEDESTRIS, a representation of a battle, upon which occasions a
camp was formed icn the circus. (Suet. Jul. 39,
)Doe. 4.)
IV. CERTAMEN GYMNICUM. See ATHLETAE,
and the references to the articles there given.
V. [VENATIO.] VI. [NAUMACHIuA.]
The pompa circensis was abolished by Constantine, upon his conversion to Christianity;
and the other games of the circus by the Goths
(A. n. 410); but the chariot races continued at
Constantinople until that city was besieged by
the Venetians (A. a. 1204). [A. R.]
CIRRTUS. [COIMA.]
CI'SIUM, a gig, i. e. a light open carriage with
two wheels, adapted to carry two persons rapidly
from place to place. Its form is sculptured on
the monumental column
at Igel, near Treves (see
woodcut). It had a box
or case, probably under
the seat. (Festus, s.v. PloiniEZsin.) The cisia were
quickly drawn by inmules
(cisi volantis, Virg. Cctal. CISTO'PHORUS (rC'TOOpposp), a silver coin,
viii. 3; Cic. P/ail. ii. 31). Cicero mentions the which belonged to the kingdom of Pergamnus, alnd
case of a messenger who travelled 56 miles in 10 which was in general circulation in Asia Minor at
hours in such vehicles, which were kept for hire at the time of the conquest of that country by the
the stations along the great roads; a proof that the Romans. (Liv. xxxvii. 46, 58, xxxix. 7; Cic. lad
ancients considered six Roman miles per hour as Att. ii. 6, xi. 1.) Its value is extremely unceran extraordinary speed. (Pro Roscio Almzer. 7.) tain, as the only information we possess on the
The conductors of these hired gigs were called subject is in two passages of Festus, which are at
cisiarii, and were subject to penalties for care- variance with each other, and of which certainly
less or dangerous driving. (Dig. 19. tit. 2. s. one, and probably the other, is corrupt. (Festus,
1 3.) [J. Y.] s. vv..Eeboicumn Taletuntm, and Talentorusz, znon,
CISTA. (KLo'dT'), a small box or basket, coin- &c.; see MUller's notes): and, with respect to the
monly made of wicker-work, in which any thing existing specimens, it is doubtful whether they are
might be placed. (Cic. Vest. iii. 85; Hor. Ip. i. double or single cistopliori. Bbckh supposes them
17. 54.) In the Roman comitia the cista was the to have been originally didrachms of the Aeginetlan
ballot-box into which the voters cast their tabellae standard: others take them for tetradrachms. l'Mr.
(Plin. I-. 1V. xxxiii. 2. s. 7; Auctor, ad Hireelznl. Hussey (pp. 74, 75), from existing coins, which lihe
i. 12; Pseudo-Ascon. ad Cic. Diviz. 7. p. 108, ed. takes for cistophorsi, determines it to be about - of
Orelli). The form of the cista is preserved on a the later Attic drachma, or Roman denarius of the
coin of the Cassia gens, which is represented in republic, and worth in our money about 7d., The
the annexed cut, and which is evidently made of existing specimens are extremely scarce. Tile
wicker or similar work. The material general device is, on the one side, the sacred chest
of which it was made is alluded to by (cista, whence the name) of Dionysus, half open,
Tibullius in the line (i. 7. 48) " et levis with a serpent creeping out of it, surrounded by
occultis conscia vista sacris." The cista an ivy wreath, and on the reverse, the car of Dehas been frequently confounded with the icmeter, drawn by serpents. The period during
sitella, but the latter was the urn from which the which cistophori were struck, is supposed to have
names of the tribes or centuries were drawn out by been from about B. c. 200, down to the battle of
lot. [SITELLA.] Actium. (Panel, de Cistophoris, Lugd. 1734
The name of cistae was also given to the small Eckhel, vol. iv. pp. 352-368; Bbcklh, letrol.
boxes whllich were carried in procession isn the Untersuszlc. pp. 101, 107.) [P. S.]
Greek festivals of Demeter and Dionysus. These CI'THARA. [LYRA.]
boxes, which were always kept closed in the public CIVI'LE JUS. [Jus CIVILE.]
processions, contained sacred things connected with CIVI'LIS ACTIO. [AcTIO.]
the worship of these deities. (Ovid, De Acit. CIVIS. [CIvITAS.]
Aseat. ii. 609; Catull. lxiv. 260; Tibull. i. 7. 48.) CIVITAS (OroAXreia), citizenship. I. GrsEix.