n._ iii. 67 from
Varro, and v. 78. The gladiatorial _ludi_ may have been
a revival of an old custom akin to human sacrifice of
captives in the field. See _Social Life at Rome in the
Age of Cicero_, p. 304, note 3.

We may also note in this connection that there is no
distinct trace of the blood-feud in old Roman law; see
_Zum aeltesten Strafrecht der Kulturvoelker_, p. 38
(questions of comparative law suggested by Mommsen and
answered by various specialists). Doubtless it once
existed, but vanished at an early date.

[52] Fowler, _R.F._ p. 242. The tail of the sacrificed
horse was carried to the Regia, where the blood was
allowed to drip on the sacred hearth (_participandae rei
divinae gratia_), Festus, p. 178.

[53] _R.F._ p. 311 foll., from Plutarch, _Rom._ 21.

[54] For this practice in many ancient religions, and
its substitute, the smearing of the stone with turmeric
or other red stain, see Jevons, _Introduction_, p. 139
foll.; Robertson Smith, _Semites_, p. 415.

[55] This is found in Zosimus ii. 1. 5; Diels,
_Sibyllinische Blaetter_, 132, and 73 note. Cp. Virg.
_Aen._ viii. 106; also a Greek rite.

[56] _G.B._ ed. 2, i. 241 foll.

[57] The bronze and iron ages, of course, overlap; see
Helbig, _Italiker in der Poebene_, p. 78 foll.

[58] Henzen, _Acta Fratr. Arv._ pp. 22 and 128 foll.
Other examples are collected by Helbig, _op. cit._ p.
80.

[59] Dion. Hal. iii. 45; Mommsen in _C.I.L._ i. p. 177.
It may be as well to point out that iron, like wheat in
the taboos of the Flamen, was considered dangerous, as
being a novelty. The old Italian grain was not true
wheat but _far_, which continued to be used in religious
rites; _R.F._ p. 304, and Marquardt, _Privatleben der
Roemer_, p. 399 foll.

[60] Varro, _L.L._ vii. 84; Ovid, _Fasti_, i. 629;
Petronius, _Sat._ 44. There are many parallels in Greek
ritual.

[61] See below, p. 146. Mr. Marett suggests to me a
comparison with the _rongo_ (sacred) of the Melanesians,
and _tapu_ as used of a place by them, _i.e._ set apart
by a human authority; Codrington, _Melanesians_, p. 77.

[62] Wissowa, _R.K._ p. 408 foll.; cp. 323 and notes.

[63] The fullest account of this will be found in
Marquardt, p. 262 foll. For the case of a man killed by
lightning, see note 4 on p. 263; t