The very early introduction of the Dioscuri into the Roman worship is interesting as being capable of unusually distinct proof. They must have been known long before the battle of the Regillus; and they took a peculiarly firm hold on the Roman mind, as we see from the common oaths Edepol, Mecastor, from their representation on the earliest denarii[1328], from their connexion with the equites throughout Roman history, and from the great popularity of their legend, which was reproduced in connexion with later battles[1329]. The spread of the cult through Southern Italy to Latium and Etruria (where it was also a favourite) is the subject of a French monograph[1330]. Footnote 1223: Livy, 31. 21; 34. 53. The MSS have ‘deo Iovi’ in the former passage, and ‘Iovis’ in the second; but it is almost certain that Vediovis is the deity referred to. See Mommsen in _C. I. L._ i. 2. 305 for the confusion in these passages, and in Livy, 35. 41. (Cp. Ovid, _Fasti_, i. 291-3.) Footnote 1224: Livy, _Epit._ 11, and 10. 47; Preller, ii. 241; Plut. _Q. R._ 94; Jordan, in _Comm. in hon. Momms._ p. 349 foll. Footnote 1225: See under May 21. Deecke, _Falisker_, 96. Footnote 1226: Livy, 33. 42, 34. 53; Jordan, l. c. Footnote 1227: These and their later history are the subject of a most exhaustive treatise by Martin Lipenius, in Graevius’ _Thesaurus_, vol. xii, p. 405. See also Marq. _Privatleben_, 1. 2, 245. For the sentiment implied in the _strenae_ see Ovid, _Fasti_, 1. 71 foll. and 175. Footnote 1228: Cp. Fest. 290. Footnote 1229: Symmachus, ep. 10. 35 ‘Ab exortu paene urbis Martiae strenarum usus adolevit, auctoritate Tatii regis, qui verbenas felicis arboris ex luco Strenuae anni novi auspices primus accepit.’ Footnote 1230: Varro, _L. L._ 6. 25 ‘quotannis is dies concipitur’ (for the right reading of the rest of the passage see Mommsen, _C. I. L._ 305). Macrobius (1. 16. 6) reckons them as conceptivae, in the fourth century; Philoc. and Silv. may be representing a _traditional_ date for a feast which was _iure conceptivus_. So Momms. Cp. Gell. 10. 24. 3, where the formula for fixing the date is given; and Cic. _in Pis._ 4. 8. It was the praetor (urbanus?) who in this case made the announcement. Footnote 1231: Cp. Philargyrius, _Georg._ 2. 382 ‘[compita] ubi pagani agrestes buccina convocati solent certa inire consilia’; no doubt discussion about agricultural matters. Footnote 1232: Cp. Ovid, _Fasti_, 1. 665, of the Paganalia: ‘Rusticus emeritum palo suspendat aratrum.’ (Cp. Tibull. ii. 1. 5.) Such features were perhaps common to all these rustic winter rejoicings. Footnote 1233: _Grom. Vet._ 302. 20 foll. Footnote 1234: For Greece see Farnell, _Cults_, ii. 561 and 598. Footnote 1235: _Folklore in Northern India_, i. 77. Footnote 1236: