last month of the year, wherein the sun enters the tropic of Capricorn, and makes the winter solstice.

In Romulus's year, December was the 10th month, whence the name, viz., from decem, "ten;" for the Romans began their year in March.

The month of December was under the protection of Veeta. Romulus assigned it 30 days, Numa reduced it to 29, which Julius Caesar increased to 31.

Under the reign of Commodus, this month was called, by way of flattery, Amazonianus, in honour of a courtezan whom that prince passionately loved, and had got painted like an Amazon: but it only kept the name during that emperor's life.

At the latter end of this month they had the juveniles ludi; and the country people kept the feast of the goddess Vacuna in the fields, having then gathered in their fruits and sown their corn; whence seems to be derived our popular festival called harvest-home.

Decempagii, in Ancient Geography, a town of Belgica: Now Dieuze, in Lorraine, on the rivulet Seillo or Selna, near the lake Lindre, about seven German miles to the north-east of Nancy.

Decempeda, Δεκαπέδα, ten-feet rod, an instrument used by the ancients in measuring.

The decempeda was a rule or rod divided into ten feet; whence its name, from decem "ten," and pes pedis, "foot." The foot was subdivided into twelve inches, and each inch into ten digits. The decempeda was used both in measuring of land, like the chain among us; and by architects to give the proper dimensions and proportions to the parts of their buildings, which use it still retains. Horace, lib. ii. od. 15, blaming the magnificence and delicacy of the buildings of his time, observes that it was otherwise in the times of Romulus and Cato; that in the houses of private persons there were not then known any porticoes measured out with the decempeda, nor turned to the north to take the cool air.