(*Ludi Capitolini*), annual games instituted on the suggestion of Camillus, B.C. 387, in honour of Jupiter Capitolinus, and to commemorate the escape of the capitol from capture by the Gauls. One of the amusements at these games consisted in a herald's offering the Sardiani for sale by auction, and leading about an old man with a golden bulla about his neck, and wearing a toga praetexta, for the purpose of exciting merriment. (Plutarch; Festus.) This ceremony, according to some ancient writers, was designed to ridicule the conquered Veientes, who were called Sardiani from Sardis the capital of Lydia, whence they were supposed to have come; while the old man represented their king in appropriate costume, since the use of the bulla, like that of the praetexta, was derived from the Etruscans. It is, however, more probable that the name Sardiani referred to the Sardinians, who were subdued by the Romans, B.C. 238, and sold as slaves, whose bad qualities gave occasion to the proverb—*Sardi venales; alius alio requirit*.

These games, after having fallen into oblivion, were re-instituted by Domitian, and under the name of *Agones Capitolini* were celebrated every fifth year, when rewards and crowns were bestowed on poets, champions, orators, historians, and musicians. These games became so famous that, instead of computing time by lustra, they began to calculate it by the Capitoline games, as the Greeks did by Olympiads; but this custom does not appear to have been of long continuance.