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p1092 Tabularium

Unsigned article on pp1092‑1093 of

William Smith, D.C.L., LL.D.:
A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, John Murray, London, 1875.

TABULA′RIUM, a place where the public records (tabulae publicae) were kept (Cic. pro C. Rabir. 3, pro Arch. 4). These records were of various kinds, as for instance Senatusconsulta, Tabulae p1093Censoriae, registers of births, deaths, of the names of those who assumed the toga virilis, &c. (See Abram. ad Cic. Mil. 27). There were various tabularia at Rome, all of which were in temples; we find mention made of tabulariaa in the temples of the Nymphs (Cic. pro Mil. 27), of Lucina, of Juventus, of Libitina, of Ceres, and more especially in that of Saturn,b which was also the public treasury (Servius, ad Virg. Georg. II.502; Capitol. M. Anton. Phil. 9). [Aerarium.]

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Thayer's Notes:

a mention of tabularia: These tabularia are presented in a very logical order, but our author has kept it under wraps for some reason.

• Juno Lucina, goddess of childbirth: in her temple the register of births.
• Juventus (or Juventas), goddess of youth: in his temple the register of comings of age, in which were recorded when each Roman boy became a man (and thus liable to military service and the other duties of adult citizens).
• Venus Libitina, goddess of death: in her temple the register of deaths.
• Ceres, goddess of the harvest: in her temple a treasury of property sequestered for offences against plebeian magistrates, and a food distribution center. The former must surely have paid for the latter, at least in part.
• Saturn, god of mines and metals: in his temple the financial records of the Roman state.

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b in the temple of Saturn: No. Although the records housed were principally those connected with the aerarium and thus with the temple of Saturn, this Tabularium was a separate building altogether, some 50 to 100 meters from the temple. For good details, see Platner's article, linked below.

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SEE ALSO:	Platner & Ashby: Tabularium
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