Quirites

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quiriten ( Latin Quirites; plural ) was a solemn, poetic name for the citizens of ancient Rome and synonymous with the younger name cives Romani ("Roman citizens"). The singular form Quiris only appeared in poetic language. The official name was Populus Romanus Quirites (later also Quiritium ), literally "Roman people of the Quirites".

Quirites is derived from the name of the god Quirinus , who was identified with the city's founder Romulus . Originally Quiriten were probably only the Sabine inhabitants of the Quirinal hill before the name was transferred to all Romans. The word is also associated with the Sabine city of Cures , the Sabine term curis for “lance”, a derivation of co-virites (“all men”, “entire citizenship”) or the ancient Roman curiae .

The term was mainly used as a salutation before the people's assembly . The ius civile could also be called ius quiritium .

“Quiriten” is also the name of a discussion group founded by Theodor Eschenburg in 1928.

literature