[316] _Phalas._ The Circensian games were originally consecrated to Neptunus Equestris, or Consus. Hence the dolphins on the columns in the Circus Maximus. The circus was divided along the middle by the Spina, at each extremity of which stood three pillars (metæ) round which the chariots turned: along this spine were seven movable towers or obelisks, called from their oval form ova, or phalæ; one was taken down at the end of each course. There were four factions in the circus, Blue, Green (xi., 196). White, and Red, xii., 114; to which Domitian added the Golden and the Purple. Suet., Domit., 7. The egg was the badge of the Green faction (which was the general favorite), the dolphin of the Blue or sea party. For the form of these, see the Florentine gem in Milman's Horace, p. 3. Böttiger has a curious theory, that the four colors symbolize the four elements, the green being the earth. The circus was the resort of prostitutes (iii., 65) and itinerant fortune-tellers. (Hence "_fallax_," Hor., i., Sat., vi., 113.) Cf. Suet., Jul., 39, and Claud., 21. [317] _Mane._ "The first thing seen" in the morning was a most important omen of the good or bad luck of the whole day. This is well turned by Hodgson: "The sooty embryo, had he sprung to light, Had heir'd thy will and petrified thy sight; Each morn with horror hadst thou turn'd away, Lest the dark omen should o'ercloud the day." [318] _Spurcos lacus._ Infants were exposed by the Milk-pillar in the Herb-market: the low ground on which this stood, at the base of Aventine, Palatine, and Capitoline, was often flooded and covered with stagnant pools. "Hoc ubi nunc fora sunt udæ tenuere paludes," Ov., Fast., vi., 401. The "Velabri regio" of Tibull., ii., v., 33. "The beggars' bantlings spawn'd in open air, And left by some pond-side to perish there; From hence your Flamens, hence your Salii come, Your Scauri chiefs and magistrates of Rome." Gifford. [319] _Mimum._ Cf. iii., 40, "Quoties voluit Fortuna jocari." [320] _Boletus._ Cf. v., 147. Nero used to call mushrooms "the food of the gods" after this. Cf. Suet., Nero, 33. Tac., Ann., xii., 66, 7. Mart., i., Ep. xxi. [321] "That only closed the driveling dotard's eyes, And sent his godhead downward to the skies." Dryden. [322] _Cæsonia._ Cf. Suet., Calig., 50, "Creditur potionatus a Cæsonia uxore, amatorio quidem medicamento, sed quod in furorem verterit." [323] _Grande Sophocleo._ "Are these then fictions? and would satire's rage Sweep in Iambic pomp the tragic stage With stately Sophocles, and sing of deeds Strange to Rutulian skies and Latian meads?" Badham. [324] _Pontia_, daughter of Titus Pontius, and wife of Drymis, poisoned her two children, and afterward committed suicide. The fact was duly inscribed on her tomb. Cf. Mart., vi., Ep. 75. [325] _Tamen._ Heinrich proposes to read "tantum." [326] _Alcestim._