Chapter XII.

It remains for us to examine the “spectacle” most noted of all, and in highest favour. It is called a dutiful service (munus), from its being an office, for it bears the name of “officium” as well as “munus.” The ancients thought that in this solemnity they rendered offices to the dead; at a later period, with a cruelty more refined, they somewhat modified its character.  For formerly, in the belief that the souls of the departed were appeased by human blood, they were in the habit of buying captives or slaves of wicked disposition, and immolating them in their funeral obsequies. Afterwards they thought good to throw the veil of pleasure over their iniquity.11    [The authority of Tertullian, in this matter, is accepted by the critics, as of historic importance.] Those, therefore, whom they had provided for the combat, and then trained in arms as best they could, only that they might learn to die, they, on the funeral day, killed at the places of sepulture. They alleviated death by murders. Such is the origin of the “Munus.” But by degrees their refinement came up to their cruelty; for these human wild beasts could not find pleasure exquisite enough, save in the spectacle of men torn to pieces by wild beasts. Offerings to propitiate the dead then were regarded as belonging to the class of funeral sacrifices; and these are idolatry: for idolatry, in fact, is a sort of homage to the departed; the one as well as the other is a service to dead men. Moreover, demons have abode in the images of the dead. To refer also to the matter of names, though this sort of exhibition has passed from honours of the dead to honours of the living, I mean, to quæstorships and magistracies—to priestly offices of different kinds; yet, since idolatry still cleaves to the dignity’s name, whatever is done in its name partakes of its impurity. The same remark will apply to the procession of the “Munus,” as we look at that in the pomp which is connected with these honours themselves; for the purple robes, the fasces, the fillets, the crowns, the proclamations too, and edicts, the sacred feasts of the day before, are not without the pomp of the devil, without invitation of demons. What need, then, of dwelling on the place of horrors, which is too much even for the tongue of the perjurer? For the amphitheatre12    [Though this was probably written at Carthage, his reference to the Flavian theatre in this place is plain from the immediate comparison with the Capitol.] is consecrated to names more numerous and more dire13    [To the infernal deities and first of all to Pluto. See vol. I. note 6, p. 131, this Series.] than is the Capitol itself, temple of all demons as it is. There are as many unclean spirits there as it holds men. To conclude with a single remark about the arts which have a place in it, we know that its two sorts of amusement have for their patrons Mars and Diana.

CAPUT XII.

Superest illius insignissimis spectaculi acceptissimi recognitio . Munus dictum est ab officio , quoniam officium etiam muneris nomen est. Officium autem mortuis hoc spectaculo facere se veteres arbitrabantur, posteaquam illud humaniores 0644C atrocitate temperaverunt. Nam olim quoniam animas defunctorum humano sanguine propitiari 0645A creditum erat, captivos vel malo ingenio servos mercati in exsequiis immolabant. Postea placuit impietatem voluptate adumbrare. Itaque quos paraverunt armis, quibus tunc et qualiter poterant eruditos, tantum ut occidi discerent, mox edicto die Inferiarum apud tumulos erogabant . Ita mortem homicidiis consolabantur. Haec muneris origo, sed paulatim provecti ad tantam gratiam, ad quantam et crudelitatem, quia ferrum voluptati satis non faciebat , nisi et feris humana corpora dissiparentur. Quod ergo mortuis litabatur, utique parentationi deputabatur. Quae species proinde idololatria est, quoniam et idololatria parentationis est species. Tam haec quam illa mortuis ministrat. In mortuorum autem idolis daemonia consistunt, ut et titulos consideremus: licet 0645B transierit hoc genus editionis ab honoribus mortuorum ad honores viventium, quaesturas dico et magistratus, et flaminia et sacerdotia: cum tamen nominis dignitas idololatriae crimine teneatur, necesse est quidquid dignitatis nomine administratur, communicet etiam maculas ejus, a qua habet caussas. Idem de apparatibus interpretabimur in ipsorum honorum suggestu deputandis, quod purpurae, quod fasciae, quod vittae, quod coronae, quod denique conciones et edicta , et pultes pridianae sine pompa diaboli, sine invitatione daemonum non sunt. Quid ergo de horrido loco perorem, quem nec perjuria sustinent? pluribus enim et asperioribus numinibus 0646A amphitheatrum consecratur, quam Capitolium omnium daemonum templum est. Tot illic immundi spiritus considunt, quot homines capit. Ut et de artibus concludam, Martem et Dianam utriusque ludi praesides novimus.