[312] THE CENTURIA. Even under the kings, the Romans were divided into five different classes, since the part taken by each individual in government affairs, especially concerning taxes and military service, depended on the amount of his property. Each of these classes consisted of a certain number of centurias, for instance, the first class contained eighty, the fifth thirty, etc. Centuria was the name originally given to a military division of 100 men, then to a certain number of citizens, from whose midst such a military organization could be formed. These centuries--in a civil sense--voted on public affairs in the _comita centuriata_ (assembly of the centuries) each century having one vote. [313] GAY BOOTHS. See Mart, _Ep._ IX, 59, v. I: “Mamurra many hours does vagrant tell, I’th’ shops, where Rome her richest ware does sell.” The same epigram describes the goods to be purchased in these booths; slaves, table-covers, ivory for table legs, semicircular dinner-couches (called _Sigma_ from their shape resembling the old Greek C) Corinthian brass (a mixture of gold, silver, and copper, very popular in those days) crystal goblets, _vasa murrhina_, chased silver dishes, gems, jewels, etc., etc. [314] WRESTLING OR THROWING THE DISCUS. Physical exercises of all kinds were highly esteemed by the Romans. Racing, wrestling, and throwing the discus (a flat, circular piece of stone or iron) were specially popular. See Hor. _Od._ I. 8 (_saepe disco_, _saepe trans finem jaculo nobilis expedito_) where the exercises in the Campus Martius are mentioned. [315] MASTHLION’S SKILL. See Mart _Ep._ V, 12: “That the haughty Masthlion now, Wields such weights on perched brow.” [316] NINUS’S STRENGTH. See Mart _Ep._ V, 12: “Or that Ninus finds his praise, With each hand eight boys to raise.” Giants, as well as dwarfs, and monstrosities of every kind were extremely popular in Rome. They were even frequently kept in aristocratic families as slaves and jesters. See Mart _Ep._ VII, 38, where a gigantic slave of Severus is mentioned. According to Plutarch, Rome ad a special market for monsters (ἡ τὼν τεράτων ἀγορά) where persons crippled in all kinds of ways were offered for sale. As the business was lucrative, certain deformities were artificially produced. [317] TABLETS ON THEIR KNEES. See Hor. _Epist. ad Pis._, 19, etc. [318] MANNIE. Such ponies are mentioned by Lucr., Hor., Prop., and Sen. They were distinguished for speed. The word is of Celtic origin.