Ab urbe condita

the right of ministering at the Ava Maxima of Hercules, transferred that duty to some temple servants, whom they had instructed in the various

observances. There is a strange tradition connected with this, and one well calculated to create religious scruples in the minds of any who would disturb the established order of ceremonial usages. It is said that though when the change was made there were twelve branches of the family of the Potitii[*](They are first introduced to us on p. 10, Vol. I.) comprising thirty adults, not one member, old or young, was alive twelve months