PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION.
The favourable reception that has been accorded to this work has enabled the publishers to issue a second edition at an exceptionally early date. The book has been revised by Dr. Sandys, and some minor inaccuracies have been removed. References to Aristotle's Constitution of Athens, which, in the former edition, could only be inserted in the last two hundred pages, have now been added in the first five hundred, wherever such addition seemed to be required. Lastly, an Index has been supplied, which, it is hoped, will make the work still further useful as a book of reference.
September, 1891.
PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION.
The present edition has been further revised and corrected by Dr. Sandys. The articles in which the most considerable changes have been introduced are those on Comitia, Music, and Theatre. The article on Comitia has been revised in accordance with the views of Mommsen; that on Music takes account of Mr. Monro’s recent work on the Modes of Ancient Music; and that on Theatre gives some additional details respecting the architectural theories of Dr. Dörpfeld.
In stating approximate English equivalents for Roman money, Dr. Sandys has thought it right to reconsider the choice made by the late Professor Nettleship between the alternative estimates given in Marquardt’s Handbuch, vol. ii., p. 71. The sum of 1,000 sesterces is there reckoned as equivalent, under a gold standard, to 217.52 marks, or £10 17s. 6d.; and, under a silver standard, to 175.41 marks, or £8 15s. 6d. In the former editions the gold standard was adopted, and 1,000 sesterces taken as equivalent to £10; in the present, the silver standard has been preferred, and the equivalent is accordingly £8 15s. Under this estimate a Roman denarius is equivalent to 812d., or very little more than a Greek drachma, which is here set at 8d.
It should be added that the Index here reprinted from the Second Edition is the work of the late Mr. H. D. Darbishire, Fellow of St. John’s College, Cambridge.
December, 1894.
| ABBREVIATIONS, ETC. | ||||
| cp. | compare. | ib. | ibidem. | |
| q.v. | quod vide. | ‿ | indicates a short syllable. | |
| l.c. | locus (or liber) citatus. | — | indicates a long syllable. | |
