The New Aid to Memory/Plate II

The Roman figure X (for ten) on the pillars of the Forum, which appears to totter or reel, will suggest the ten Senators who had all the power of the State vested in them. The tottering or reeling pillars in the Court of Justice will remind us how it was administered before Rome possessed the twelve tables of the law, which were brought at this time from Athens and the cities of Greece.

Reels will give the date 450 B.C.

The Roman figure X tumbling from its pillar, on which a knife is lying, the point resembles an arrow.

The expulsion of the Decemviri was in consequence of the conduct of Appius Claudius, ​one of the Decemviri, who was enamoured of Virginia, the daughter of Virginius, a centurion. The base endeavours of Appius against the honour of the daughter of Virginius, rankled like an arrow within him; to save her therefore from being disgraced, he plunged a knife into her heart. The soldiers incensed at the conduct of Appius produced a revolution.

Arrow will give the date 448 B.C.

Some knights (sound like Samnites) on horse-back standing in a horse-mart will suggest the name and date of these wars. The mart may remind us that a Roman knight was not allowed to sell his horse, unless he was deposed, and ordered to do so by the Censor.

Mart will give the date 341 B.С.

A puny cart (for Carthage) standing by a puny dam of water, which some men in helmets ​(Romans) are endeavouring to undam or break up, will suggest the date of the First Punic War.

The origin of this war was the desire of each nation, Carthage and Rome, to become possessed of the island of Sicily. The Romans wished it as a granary for Rome; the Carthaginians, as of great advantage to them as a commercial station. Each nation, therefore, under pretence of affording assistance in an internal war at Messina, in Sicily, sent auxiliaries, who soon turned their arms against each other.

Undam will give the date 263 B.C.

Two puny carts (for Carthage) loaded with rolls of torn papers, the strings around them are untied, and a besieged town, will suggest the infraction of the Articles of Peace by the Carthaginians.

The city of Saguntum in Spain, in alliance with Rome, was besieged by Hannibal, the Carthaginian General, contrary to the Articles of Peace.

Untied will give the date 216 B.С.

A cart (for Carthage), with three wheels, attacked by a troop of black Numidians, will suggest the date of this war, and the incursion of Masinissa the Numidian, into a territory claimed by the Carthaginians, who attempted to repel it.

This defence of themselves was considered by the Romans a violation of the treaty made after the Second Punic War, which treaty stated that the Carthaginians were not to make war without the consent of the Romans.

On this account, the Romans commenced the Third Punic War.

Troop will give the date 149 B.C.

A cart (for Carthage) broken to pieces and a crescent upon it, will suggest the barbarous Turk-like treatment which Carthage endured when overthrown by the Romans.

Turk will give the date 147 B.C.

Two kicking horses, which are here made to eat meat out of a rack-high (for Gracchi), will suggest the sedition of Tiberius and Caius Gracchi, whose main object was to bring into operation the Licinian law, which enacted that no person in the state should possess above five hundred acres of land, but that the overplus should become the property of the state. In this agitation, which lasted upwards of ten years, Tiberius and Caius Gracchus lost their lives: the former, in an affray of the people; the latter, by assassination.

Eat-meat will give the date 131 В.С.

An African chief, who has undergone the operation called tattoo, with a jug of earth (for. Jugurtha) on his head, will suggest the name of Jugurtha, king of Numidia, in Africa, and also the date of the war. Jugurtha was attacked by the Romans for his treachery to Adherbal, one of the princes whom the Romans had decreed ​should divide the kingdom of Numidia. After a war of five years, Jugurtha was taken prisoner, carried to Rome, and starved to death.

Tattoo will give the date 111 B.С.

A tumbler, who is striking his head with his feet, which have on the Roman sock (for social), will suggest the Social War and its date.

Most of the States of Italy entered into a confederacy against Rome, in order to gain the freedom, and to be treated as citizens of Rome. This was called the Social War. After three years' war, the States in a great measure succeeded. It may be called the war of the feet against the head.

Feet will give the date 91 B.C.

Decemvir reels, Ex-Decem. Arrow, Samnǐtes-Mart-war. First Punic Undam, Sec. Punic Untied, Third Punic a Troop. Carthage Turk, Grac. Eat-meat, Jug. Tattoo, Social Feet.