Ab urbe condita

Some think that he fixed upon this number from the number of the birds who foretold his sovereignty; but I am inclined to agree with those who think that as this class of public officers was borrowed from the same people from whom the “ sella curulis ” [*](sella curulis —Lit. “the chariot seat”, and hence the seat of the supreme magistrate when administering justice.) and the “ toga praetexta ” [*](toga praetexta. —Lit. “the bordered toga” (i.e. edged with purple), worn by the higher magistrates and priests, and also by all free-born boys till about their sixteenth year and by girls till their marriage.) were adopted —their neighbours, the Etruscans —so the number itself also was taken from them. Its use amongst the Etruscans is traced to the custom of the twelve sovereign cities of Etruria, when jointly electing a king furnishing him each with one lictor.

Meantime[*](The Asylum.) the City was growing by the extension of its walls in various directions an increase due rather to the anticipation of its future population than to any present overcrowding. His next care was to secure an addition to the population that the size of the City might not be a