The works of Horace : with English notes, critical and ... - Cristo Raul

EXPLANATORY NOTES.—SiECULAE HYMN. 41b
ates their institntiou to the miracaloas recovery of three children of one
Valerias, who had heen attacked by a plague raging at that time in Rome,
and were restored to health by drinking some water warmed at a place
in the Campns Martina called Tarentum. Valerius afterward offered sac-
rifices in Tarentnm to Dis and Proserpina, to whom the recovery of his
children was supposed to be owing, spread lectistemia for the gods, and
held festive games for three successive nights, because his three children
had been saved. The account of Valerius Maximus agrees in the main
with those of Censorinns and of Zosimua, and all appear to have derived
their inibnnation from the ancient annalist, Valerius Antias. While, according
to this account, the Tarentine Games weife first celebrated by Vap
lerins, another legend seems to consider the fight of the Horatians and Coriatians
as connected with their first celebration. A third account ascribes
Iheir first institution to the reign of Tarquinius Superbas. A fearful plague
broke out, by which all pregnant women were afiected in such a manner
that the children died in the womb. Games were then instituted to pro-
pitiate the infernal divinities, together with sacrifices of sterile cows {famrets),
whence the games were called ludi Taurii. These games and sac-
rifices took place in the Gircns Flaminius, that the infernal divinities
might not enter the city. I'estns and Censorinns ascribe the first celebration
to the consul Valerius Foplicola. This account admits that the
worship of Bis and Proserpina had existed long before, but states that the
games and sacrifices were now performed for the first time to avert a
plague, and in that part of the Campns Martina which had belonged to
the last king Tarquinius, from whom the place derived its name Tarentum.
Valerius Maximua and Zosimus, who knew of the celebration of these
games by Valerius Poplioola, endeavor to reconcile their two accounts by
representing the celebration of Foplicola as the aecond in' ehronologica],
order. Other less important traditions are mentioned by Serviua and by
Varro.
Aa regards the namea Tarentini or Taurii, they are perhaps nothing bnt
difierent forms of the same word, and of the same root as Tarquinius. All
the accounts mentioned above, though difiering as to the time at which,
and the persons by whom, the Tarentine games were first celebrated, yet
agree in stating that they were celebrated for the purpoae of averting
from the atate some great calamity by which it had been afflicted, and
that they were held in honor of Dia and Proserpina. Prom the time of
the consul Valerius Foplicola down to that of Augustus, the Tarentine
Games were only held three times, and again only on certain emergen-
cies, and not at any fixed time, so that we mnst conclude that their celebration
was in no way connected with certain cycles of time {stBcula),
The deities in whose honor they were held during the republic, continned,
as at first, to be Dis and Proserpina. As to the times at which these
three celebrations took place, the commentarii of the qnindecimviri and
the accounts of the annalists did not agree, and the discrepancy of the
statements still extant shows the vain attempts which were made in later
times to prove that, during the republic, the gamea had been celebrated
once in every sfficulum. All these misrepresentations and distortions
arose in the time of Augustus. Not long after be had assumed the supreme
power in the republic, the qnindecimviri announced that, according
to their books, Indi saecnlarea ought to be held, and, at the same time,
tried to prove from history that in former times they had not only been