decursio

dēcursĭo, ōnis, f. [decurro], a running or flowing down (less freq. than decursus; not in Cic.).

• I In gen.: aquae, Arn. 2, p. 84.—
• II In partic., milit. t. t., a manoeuvre, military exercise, evolution, a descent, hostile attack, Brutus ap. Cic. Fam. 11, 10, 4; Hirt. B. G. 8, 24, 3; Auct. B. Alex. 42.—Hence,
• • B Transf., a walking or running in complete armor at a solemnity or for exercise, Suet. Calig. 18; id. Galb. 6.

dēcursio, ōnis, f. (decurro), das Herablaufen, I) im allg.: aquae, Arnob. 2, 59: globosa, Chalcid. Tim. 235. – II) insbes. als milit. t. t., die Evolution, a) zur Übung od. zu einer Feier, das Manöver, die Revue, d. campi, Veget. mil., od. dec. campestris, Suet.: d. Troiae, Suet.: indicere decursionem praetorianis, Suet. – b) feindlich, das Herabstürmen, der Überfall, barbarorum, Hirt. b. G.: decursiones facere, Auct. b. Alex.: decursionibus per equites vastet ea loca, in quae incurrerit, Brutus in Cic. ep.

decursio [LL] 1 excursion, journey. b flow, flood (of tears); v. et. 2 decursus 1a. tuus servulus ex peregrinatione ‥ veniens ‥ receptus est ‥. arbitrabatur eum ex mutatione melioratum, non ex terrarum longinqua ~one pejoratum fuisse Ep. ad amicum 146.  b literulas tibi crebris lacrimarum ~onibus oblitas ‥ scripsi Ep. ad amicum 129. 2 a course (of calculation). b lapse (of time); v. et. 2 decursus 2c. a septinarius supputationum calculus simpla ‥ et septupla ~one Aldh. Met. 2.  b s1198 ~one sex mensium R. Howd. IV 67.

dēcursĭō, (14) ōnis, f. (decurro), ¶ 1 action de descendre à la course ; incursion de cavalerie : Brut. d. Cic. Fam. 11, 10, 4 ; ou descente brusque : Hirt. G. 8, 24, 3 || descente de lʼeau : Arn. 2, 59 ¶ 2 évolution (manœuvre) militaire, revue : Suet. Cal. 18.

decursio , onis. f.
擾累地方。兵演。侵犯地方。

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DECURSIO

DECU´RSIO, DECURSUS, DECURRERE.

1. These words were used to signify the manoeuvres of the Roman army, by which the soldiers were taught to make long marches in a given time, under arms and without quitting their ranks. They are frequently mentioned by Livy (Liv. 23.35, 6; 24.48-Z2, 11; 26.51-Z2, 4; 42.52-Z2, 4). These manoeuvres sometimes consisted of a sham fight between two divisions of the army. ( Mos erat . . . exercitum decurrere et divisas bifariam duas acies concurrere ad simulacrum pugnae, Liv. 40.6, 5.) With the standing armies under the empire these manoeuvres assumed a more regular form, and were constantly practised. Augustus and subsequently Hadrian ordered that the infantry and cavalry were to march out three times a month ten miles from the camp and ten miles back fully armed and equipped. This is called by Vegetius campicursio (Veget. 1.27 ; 3.4), and by Suetonius campestris decursio (Suet. Galb. 6: cf. Ner. 7; Tac. Ann. 2.55). Maximinus ordered that these manoeuvres should take place every five days (Capitol. Maxim. duo, 6). (Cf. Marquardt, Röm. Staatsverw. 2. p. 548.)

2. The same words were used to signify the military honours paid by soldiers at the funeral of distinguished generals or emperors. Such a

decursio is first mentioned in connexion with the funeral of Sempronius Gracchus, killed in the second Punic war (Liv. 25.17, 4, 5). The soldiers marched three times round the funeral pyre (Verg. A. 11.188; Tac. Ann. 2.7; Suet. Cl. 1; Lucan (Luc. 8.735; Herodian. 4.2, 19). On the base of the Antonine Column this decursio is represented.

3. The decursio, which occurs on the coins of Nero, probably refers to the military manoeuvres or sham fights in the circus. The preceding cut represents a horseman with a spear, and another carrying a standard. These games date from the time of the republic, and were continued under the empire. (Liv. 44.9, 3; Eckhel, vi. pp. 271, 503; Becq de Fouquières, Les Jeux des Anciens, p. 256; Saglio, Dict. s. v.)

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