Elected in the great assembly to preside in war, they were raised on the shoulders of martial freemen, amid wild battle cries and the clash of spear and shield.

The army consisted entirely of volunteers, and the soldier was for life infamous who deserted the field while his chief remained alive.

The same great assembly elected the village magistrates and decided upon all important matters both of peace and war.
At the full of the moon it was usually convoked.

The nobles and the popular delegates arrived at irregular intervals, for it was an inconvenience arising from their liberty, that two or three days were often lost in waiting for the delinquents.

All state affairs were in the hands of this fierce democracy.