Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Censor

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

CENSOR (τιμητής). A Roman magistrate of high rank, whose duty it was to rate the property of the citizens by taking the census; to superintend their conduct and morals; and to punish those who had misconducted themselves, by degradation and removal from their rank, offices, or position in society. Thus he could deprive the senator of his seat in the house; the knight, of the horse allowed him at the public expense, which was equivalent to breaking him; or he could remove any citizen from his tribe into one of less influence or rank. (Liv. xxvii. 11. Suet. Aug. 37. Polyb. vi. 13. 3.) He wore no distinctive badge, nor particular costume, beyond the usual ones of his consular rank; and, consequently, when a censor is represented on coins or medals, he is merely draped in the toga, and sitting on a curule chair, as in the coin of Claudius in Spanheim, vol. ii. p. 101.