contio

advocare populum in contionem
to summon the people into the meeting

contĭo (less correctly concĭo), ōnis, f. [contr. from conventio, for which COVENTIO is written in S. C. Bacch.; v. conventio, and cf. Varr. L. L. 6, § 43 Müll.; Paul. ex Fest. p. 38, 4, and p. 113, 10 Müll.], a meeting, assembly that is called together by a magistrate or priest (cf.: contio significat conventum, non tamen alium quam eum qui a magistratu vel a sacerdote publico per praeconem convocatur, Paul. ex Fest. p. 38, 4; cf. contionor—In good prose).

• I Prop.: advocat contionem, habet orationem talem consul, Cic. Sest. 12, 28; so, advocare contionem, id. Verr. 2, 3, 80, § 185; Sall. C. 57, 5; id. J. 33, 3; Liv. 8, 31, 1; Suet. Claud. 22 et saep.: advocare contionem populi, Sall. J. 84, 5: militum, Caes. B. C. 2, 32: advocare populum in contionem, Liv. 42, 33, 2: ad contionem advocavit, id. 4, 1, 6: plebem ad contionem vocare, id. 2, 2, 4; cf. Suet. Calig. 48: me in vestram contionem evocaverunt, Cic. Agr. 3, 4, 16: convocatis ad contionem militibus, Suet. Caes. 66: contionem habere, to hold a meeting, Liv. 29, 21, 7 (cf.: contionem habere, II. infra): in contione dicere, Cic. Or. 63, 213 sq.; of. id. ib. 50, 168; and id. de Or. 2, 59, 242: in contionem populi prodire, Nep. Them. 1, 3: quae ego de te in senatu egerim, quae in contionibus dixerim, Cic. Fam. 5, 2, 4; cf. so in opp. to the Senate, Tac. A. 4, 40 fin.: laudare aliquem pro contione, before the people, Sall. J. 8, 2; Liv. 7, 7, 3; 7, 10, 14 al.; Quint. 2, 4, 33; 4, 4, 8 al.: nunc in mille curias contionesque dispersam et dissipatam esse rempublicam, Liv. 2, 28, 4; 2, 23, 5: contio conventusque, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 50, § 110: contio, quae ex imperitissimis constat, id. Lael. 25, 95: togata et urbana, Liv. 45, 37, 8: turbulentae, Quint. 5, 13, 39; cf.: in illis fluctibus contionum, id. 8, 6, 48; and: contionum procellae, id. 8, 6, 7: stabant pro contione legiones destrictis gladiis, in the manner of an assembly, Tac. A. 1, 44 Draeg. ad loc.—
• II Meton., a discourse, oration before a public assembly: legi contionem tuam, Cic. Fam. 9, 14, 7; cf.: audiri jam et legi novas contiones, Tac. A. 5, 4 fin.: habere contionem ... quā in oratione, Cic. Agr. 2, 1, 1; so, contionis habendae potestas, id. Fam. 5, 2, 7; Liv. 24, 22, 1: contionem apud milites habuit, Caes. B. C. 3, 73; so Liv. 44, 1, 9; cf. also id. 27, 13, 1; Caes. B. C. 2, 18: habuit super eā re contionem, Suet. Caes. 5: in contione contra Catilinam, Quint. 5, 11, 42: funebres tristes atque summissae, id. 11, 3, 153: ut Cicero dicit contra contionem Metelli, id. 9, 3, 50; cf. Gell. 18, 7, 7; and the few fragments of this oration of Cic. in Orell. IV. 2, p. 455 sq.; Quint. 12, 10, 70; cf. id. 3, 8, 65; 3, 8, 67.—Of the orations reported in a history: ille (sc. Thucydides) contionibus melior, hic (sc. Herodotus) sermonibus, Quint. 10, 1, 73; cf. id. 9, 4, 18; Plin. Ep. 1, 16, 4.—
• • B A place for speaking, a tribune, rostrum; mostly in the phrases in contionem ascendere or escendere: cum magistratum inieris et in contionem ascenderis, Cic. Fin. 2, 22, 74; id. Att. 4, 2, 3: in contionem escendit, Liv. 2, 7, 7 Weissenb. ad loc.; 3, 49, 4; 5, 50, 8: Perseus in contionem processit Philippum secum filium habens, id. 44, 45, 8; cf.: contionem tria significare: locum suggestumque unde verba fierent, ... coetum populi adsistentis, item orationem ipsam, Verr. Fl. ap. Gell. 18, 7, 7.

cōntio, ōnis, f. (zsgz. aus *coventio; S. C. de Bacch. noch coventionid), die Zusammenkunft = die Versammlung der Gemeinde, sowohl der durch Heroldsruf von einem Magistrate berufenen Stadtgemeinde, um einen Vortrag anzuhören (in Rom zB. Empfehlung oder Widerratung eines Gesetzvorschlags [über den dann in den nächsten Komitien nach Tribus oder Zenturien abgestimmt wurde], Verlesung eingegangener Kriegsberichte u. dgl.), die Volksversammlung, als auch der durch ein Signal mit der Tuba vom Feldherrn entbotenen Soldatengemeinde im Lager, um eine Rede an sie zu halten, Belobigungen, Belohnungen u. Strafen zu erteilen u. dgl., die Soldatenversammlung, I) eig.: contio populi, Nep.: c. conventusque civium, Cic. – c. universa, Curt.: extrema, die ganz hinten in der Vers. Stehenden (Ggstz. qui proximi tribunali steterant), Liv. u. Suet. – diurna (Ggstz. c. nocturna), Liv.: legitima, Cic., od. legitime ab consule vocata, Liv.: togata et urbana, Liv.: turbulenta, Cic.: contiones civium seditiosae, Val. Max.: contiones seditiose concitatae, Cic. – clamor contionis, Cic. (vgl. clamor est totā contione ortus, Liv.): fremitus contionum od. concitatarum contionum, Quint. u. Val. Max.: illi fluctus contionum, Quint. – contionem vocare, Tac., od. advocare, Cic. u. Liv.: classico contionem advocare, Liv.: advocare contionem populi od. militum, Sall. u. Caes.: vocare od. advocare ad contionem (absol.), Liv.: vocare plebem od. exercitum ad contionem, Liv. u. Curt.: advocare populum in contionem, Liv.: convocare milites ad contionem, Suet.: convocare classico contionem, Sen.: convocare classico ad contionem (absol.), Liv.: me in vestram contionem convocaverunt, Cic. – contionem indicere subito, Val. Max. – contionem habere, Cic.: contionem Locrensium habere, Liv.: contionem habere maximam, Cic.: contionem habere de alqo, Cic. – contionem dimittere, Liv.: contionem summovere, Cic. – contionem differre, Liv.: contionem remittere (erlassen, auf sie verzichten), Liv.: novis semper certaminibus contiones turbare, Liv. – dare alci contionem, gewähren, verschaffen (vom Magistrate, der für jmd. eine V. veranstaltet), Cic. – producere alqm in contionem, jmd. in die V. einführen (damit er vor dem Volke seine Meinung abgebe od. ein Zeugnis ablege), Cic. u. Liv.: subducere in contionem alqm (v. Angeklagten), Liv.: procedere in contionem (v. den Konsuln), Liv.: prodire in contionem, Liv., in contionem populi, Nep.; vgl. in meam contionem (in die von mir berufene V.) prodeant, Cic.: ire od. adire ad contionem, Liv. u. Cic.: ex curia in contionem itur, Liv.: in contionem prosilire, Liv. – in contionem ascendere od. escendere, in die V. und zwar auf die Rednerbühne treten, in der V. (als Redner) auftreten, Liv. – contiones suas frequentare legibus agrariis, zu ihren V. viele Menschen herbeiziehen durch Ankündigung von A., Liv. – alqd in contione dicere, Cic.: litteras in contione recitare, Cic.: vel in contione legi posse (in einer öffentlichen V., öffentlich, vor jedermann), Cic.: in contione indicare m. folg. Akk. u. Infin., Curt.: in contione donare alqm, Cic.: in contione militum civitate donare alqm, Val. Max. – pro contione (vor der V., vor dem versammelten Volke od. vor dem versammelten Heere, s. Heräus Tac. hist. 4, 24, 16), zB. pro contione dicere, Auct. b. Afr.: so auch pro contione suadere ac dissuadere, Quint.: litteras od. epistulas pro contione recitare, Curt. u. Tac.: alqm pro contione donare atque laudare, Sall. – dagegen stabant pro contione (in der Weise einer V., als V.) legiones destrictis gladiis, Tac. ann. 1, 44. – legationes in contionis modum circumfusae, Liv.: cum circumfusa turba esset prope in contionis modum,... ait, Liv.

II) meton., der vor dem versammelten Volke oder Heere gehaltene Vortrag, der Vortrag-, die Rede-, die Anrede (Ansprache) ans Volk od. ans Heer, contio libera et moderata, Liv.: c. saeva atque acerba, Liv.: contiones turbulentae Metelli, temerariae Appii, furiosissimae Publii, Cic.: c. funebris, Leichenrede, Cic. u. Quint.: contiones directae (Ggstz. oratio obliqua), Iustin. – m. contra u. Akk., haec contra Antonium c., Cic. ad Att. 14, 20, 4: in contione contra Catilinam, Quint. 5, 11, 42. – primae contioni alcis interesse, Val. Max.: alcis contionem legisse, Cic.: contionem habere, Cic.: contionem (od. contionem saevam atque acerbam) apud milites habere, Caes. u. Liv.: habere contiones in Caesarem graves. Caes.: contionem habere super ea re, Suet.: de mea salute principum civitatis celeberrimae et gratissimae contiones fuerunt, Cic.: dicere contra contionem Metelli, Quint. – u. (im Ggstz.) in contionibus eadem, quae in orationibus (gerichtl. Reden) vis est, Plin. ep.: ille contionibus (Volksreden), hic sermonibus (Gesprächen) melior, Quint. – ➳ contio, nicht concio ist die Schreibung der Inschriften u. der besten Handschriften, dh. in fast alle neueren Texte aufgenommen, s. Fleckeisen, Fünfzig Artikel S. 14.

contio [CL] , gathering, assembly. b company, intercourse. c (?) reading, recitation. d sermon. altato ‥ sceptri in vertice celydro Ebreae ~onis obtutibus praesentato [cf. Num. xxi] Aldh. Ep. 3; ~o, gemoot, convocatio populi GlC C 841 (cf. ib. 846: ~o, ecclesia); finito conflictu ac soluta ~one ‥ domum rediit Bede HE III 26; ~o, gegaderung Ælf. Sup.; habuit haec ~o [sc. monasterium de Burcg] rectores et propagatores ‥ industrios Gosc. Mir. Iv. lxj; cum ‥ sororum ~o septem psalmos penitentiae chorizassent Id. Wulfh. 14; Lib. Eli. II 34 (v. contionator 2); comites ex parte conscionis missi ad cancellarium Devizes 36v; catholicos nostros ‥ disertiores convocatos in ~one et publica audientia confundebat Gir. GE I 51 p. 150; s1237 (v. congregatio 1a).  b ut vicia ‥ vitarent simul cum ~one viciosorum ‥ ammonens eos Blakman Hen. VI 9.  c instituit ‥ Celestinus [I, ob. 432] introitus et gradualia et offertoria et post ~ones ex psalmis R. Niger I 73 (cf. Higd. IV 32: Celestinus ‥ qui constituit ‥ quod introitus misse sumeretur de psalmo cum versu ejusdem psalmi).  d StatOx 350 (v. contionator 1b); 1549 ea ~one seu exhortatione facta, ‥ synodus acta ‥ legi fecit Conc. Scot. II 86; 1586 pietate et ~onibus Scot. Grey Friars II 175.

cōntĭō, (7) et à tort concĭō, ōnis, f. (sync. de conventio ), ¶ 1 assemblée du peuple convoquée et présidée par un magistrat [dans laquelle on ne vote jamais], cf. P. Fest. 38, 4 ; advocare contionem Cic. Sest. 28 ; habere Cic. Phil. 6, 18, convoquer, présider lʼassemblée du peuple ; Locrensium contionem habuit Liv. 29, 21, 7, il réunit lʼassemblée des Locriens ; laudare aliquem pro contione Sall. J. 8, 2 ; Liv. 7, 7, 3, faire lʼéloge de qqn devant le peuple ; dimittere, summovere contionem, congédier, lever lʼassemblée, v. ces verbes || assemblée des soldats : Cæs. G. 5, 52, 5 ¶ 2 harangue, discours public : contiones habere Cic. Br. 305, prononcer des discours politiques, des harangues ; contionem apud milites habuit Cæs. C. 3, 73, 2, il prononça une harangue devant les troupes || discours [en gén.] : Thucydides contionibus melior Quint. 10, 1, 73, Thucydide a lʼavantage pour les discours ¶ 3 [expressions] : in contionem prodire Cic. Agr. 3, 1, sʼavancer pour parler dans lʼassemblée, ou [comme on parlait du haut des rostres] in contionem ascendere Cic. Fin. 2, 74, se présenter pour parler, monter à la tribune (cf. Verr. Fl. d. Gell. 18, 7, 7 ).

cōntiō (not cōncio), ōnis, f

• for conventio, a meeting, assembly, convocation, gathering, audience: advocat contionem: habere, L.: populi, S.: militum, Cs.: plebem ad contionem vocare, L.: ut omnis contio audire posset: rem in contione agere: laudare alqm pro contione, before the people, S.: pro contione edixit, publicly, L.: circumfusa turba in contionis modum, L.: contio, quae ex imperitissimis constat. — A discourse, oration, public address, harangue, speech: contionem apud milites habere: hesterna: libera, L.: in Caesarem, Cs.: contra Antonium: de meā salute: in contionem ascendere, to come forward to speak: (populus) me in contionem vocavit, demanded a speech.

CONTIO

CON´TIOoften erroneously spelt CONCIOis a contraction for conventio; that is, a meeting, or a conventus. In a loose mode of speaking it denotes any popular assembly, even among non-Romans (Liv. 24.22; Cic. pro Flacc. 7, § 15), and any speech or harangue addressed to such an assembly; hence the common phrase contionem habere means indifferently to hold a meeting and to make a speech. Written speeches are sometimes called contiones (Cic. in Vat. 1, § 3; ad Att. 14.20). In the technical sense, however, a contio was an assembly of the Roman people convened regularly (per praeconem) by a magistrate or a sacerdos publicus (Fest. p. 66 M.). A general in the field by virtue of his imperium could summon his troops as often as he pleased to hear what he had to say to them (in contionem vocare; contionem habere, Liv. 27.13); and what he said before the assembled army was pro contione (Sal. Jug. 8). But when L. Paullus after his triumph (with which his imperium came to an end) wished to make an explanatory statement, he had to obtain leave from a magistrate, who was said contionem dare (Liv. 45.40extr.; cf. Cic. ad Att. 4.2). A contio thus lawfully convened was the usual mode of initiating public discussion, e. g. of measures which were to be brought before the comitia, and of working upon the people either to support or oppose the measure. Contiones were also summoned for other purposes, e. g. of persuading the people to take part in a war (Dionys. 6.28) or of bringing complaints against a party in the republic or an individual (id. 9.25; Liv. 39.15; Plut. C. Gracch. 3). But no question of any kind could be decided by a contio, and this constitutes the difference between contiones and comitia (Gell. N. A. 13.16 [in old edd. 15, § § 8-10]; Cic. pro Sest. 50.106; 54.115). Contrasting Roman and Greek methods, Cicero says that the former went to the poll and voted deliberately, summota contione; while the Athenians in the days of their glory were governed by the hasty decisions of the assembly, contionis temeritate (pro Flacc. l. c.).

Meetings of this kind naturally were of very frequent occurrence at Rome. The earliest that is mentioned is one held immediately after the death of Romulus by Julius Proculus in the Campus Martins (Liv. 1.16; Plut. Rom. 27); the first after the expulsion of the kings was held by Brutus (Liv. 2.2; Dionys. 5.10, &c.), Every magistrate had the right to convene contiones, but it was most frequently exercised by the consuls and tribunes, and the latter more especially exercised a great influence over the people in and through these contiones. A magistrate who was higher in rank than the one who had convened a contio, had the right to order the people to disperse, if he disapproved of the object (avocare, Gell. l. c.); and such a command and the vehemence of the haranguing tribunes rendered contiones often very tumultuous and riotous, especially during the later period of the republic (Cic. pro Sest. 50.106); so that their powers were curtailed by Sulla (id. pro Cluent. 40.110). The convening magistrate either addressed the people himself, or he introduced other persons to whom he gave permission to speak, for no private person was allowed to speak without this permission, and the people had nothing to do but to listen. (Dionys. 5.11; Liv. 3.71, 42.34-Z2; Cic. ad Att. 4.2) The place where such meetings were held does not seem to have been fixed, for we find them in the Forum, the Capitol, the Campus Martius, and even the Circus Flaminius (Cic. pro Sest. 14.33).

[L.S] [W.W]

Contio

(erroneously spelt Concio). A contraction for conventio; that is, a meeting, or conventus. In a loose mode of speaking it denotes any popular assembly, even among non-Romans, and any speech or harangue addressed to such an assembly; hence the common phrase contionem habere means indifferently “to hold a meeting” and “to make a speech.” Written speeches are also sometimes called contiones. In the technical sense, however, a contio was an assembly of the Roman people convened regularly (per praeconem) by a magistrate or a sacerdos publicus. A general in the field by virtue of his imperium could summon his troops as often as he pleased to hear what he had to say to them (adlocutio), and what he said before the assembled army was pro contione (Sall. Iug. 8).