curia

A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.

cūrĭa, ae, f. [kindr. with Quiris, Quirites; cf. the letter C],

I a curia or court, one of the thirty parts into which Romulus divided the Roman people, ten for each of the three tribes; each curia contained ten gentes, Varr. ap. Dion. Hal. 2, 83; Liv. 1, 13, 6; Aur. Vict. Vir. Ill. 2, 12; Dig. 1, 2, 2; Paul. ex Fest. p. 49, 1 Müll.—

II Meton.

A A structure built for the religious services of a curia (sometimes also serving for other purposes), Varr. L. L. 5, § 155 Müll.; Fest. p. 174, 6 ib.: veteres, on the east side of the Palatine Hill, Varr. l. l. ib.; Tac. A. 12, 24; called curia prisca, Ov. F. 3, 140; Fest. l. l.: Novae, id. l. l.—

2 Hence, dies curiae, a festival day , Cic. de Or. 1, 7. 27.—Hence,

B One of the edifices in which the Senate held its consultations .

1 Commonly κατʼ ἐξοχήν, the Curia Hostilia built by Tullus Hostilius (in reference to the later Curia Julia and Pompeiana, v. infra), the Curia, Senate-house , Varr. L. L. 5, § 155 Müll.; Liv. 1, 30, 2; Plin. 35, 4, 7, § 22; Varr. L. L. 6, § 46; id. Fragm. ap. Non. p. 57, 5; Cic. Rep. 2, 17, 31; id. Cat. 4, 1, 2; id. Fl. 24, 57; id. Mil. 33, 89; Quint. 11, 1, 47; Ov. M. 15, 802. —

2 Curia Julia, the Senate-house begun by Julius Caesar, finished by the triumvirs, and used by the Senate after the burning of the Curia Hostilia, Suet. Calig. 60.—

3 Curia Pompeii or Pompeja, the Senate-house built by Pompey, finally closed after the assassination of Julius Caesar in it , Cic. Div. 2, 9, 23; Suet. Caes. 80 sq. et saep.—Hence, trop., as emblem of law: stante urbe et curiā, Cic. Planc. 29, 71: pro curia inversique mores, Hor. C. 3, 5, 7; of the senatorial rank: curia pauperibus clausa est, Ov. Am. 3, 8, 55.—

C Of the places of assembly of high councils out of Rome, Cic. Att. 6, 1, 6; Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 21, § 50; Liv. 24, 24, 4; Ov. M. 13, 197; Juv. 9, 101.—

D The assembly of the Senate, the Senate (cf. Cic. de Or. 3, 42, 167): a curiā nulla me res divellet, Cic. Att. 1, 20, 3: aliquem in curiam introducere, Liv. 22, 1, 14; 2, 23, 11 sq.; 2, 24, 3; Suet. Caes. 22; id. Aug. 38; Hor. C. 2, 1, 14 et saep.—

E Curia Calabra, so called from the proclamation of the dates which was there made; v. Calabra.—

F Curia Saliorum, the official building of the Salii on the Palatine Hill, consecrated to Mars, in which the sacred lituus was kept , Cic. Div. 1, 17, 30.

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