Faction

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The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Faction

in the Roman Empire, a group of people involved in organizing equestrian contests.

The term was later transferred by scholars studying Byzantium to the sports organizations, known in Byzantine cities from the fourth century A.D., that arranged and conducted circus and sports events.

Large groups of fans, called demes, adhered to the various factions. There were usually four factions in each city, and they, like the demes, were named according to the color of the costumes worn by their charioteers: the Blues (Veneti), Greens (Prasinoi), Whites (Leukoi), and Reds (Russi). The most important were the Veneti and Prasinoi of Constantinople, who played an important political role in the fifth through seventh centuries. They lost their political importance around the middle of the seventh century and subsequently concerned themselves solely with the organization of sports competitions and festive ceremonies in Constantinople.

References in periodicals archive ?

'Only two of three BIFF factions because one of the factions have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terror organization,' Sinarimbo said.

BARMM negotiating with 2 BIFF factions for possible surrender

Burovs' situation is better because support to him has been promised by Harmony faction, while four lawmakers expelled from Harmony do not exclude their support to Burovs, which would ensure 32 votes out of 60.

(w/ADD) JKP and Unity still want snap elections at Riga City Council

The simmering row between a faction led by BAK chairman John Kameta and another led by his deputy Albert Matito has boiled over, with each group coming up with its own plans for the team selection tournament, the Kenya Open Boxing Championship.

Stop wrangles in boxing

The two factions also elected Elom David and Tony Egwu as Treasurers.

NLC Election: Ebonyi Chapter Elects 2 Chairman

Jayarajan was set up on Tuesday to resolve the ongoing row between the Orthodox and Jacobite church factions.

Kerala church feud: Five-member ministerial panel to mediate

'We recognise there are factions. In any community there are factions.

'Let's try not to have factions,' PKR polls chief tells members

The parliamentary majority coalition has been enlarged with the fourth faction without a dissolution and formation of a new coalition.

Majority coalition enlarged without dissolution, SDPK faction leader says

March 19, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The opposition Sudan Call has launched a mediation to heal the rift between the two factions of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) stressing that it stands at the same distance from the two parties.

Sudanese opposition forms good offices committee to reconcile SPLM-N factions

ISLAMABAD -- In a bid to safeguard seats in the upper house of the parliament, the two factions of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan on Friday announced to jointly contest the Senate elections.

MQM-P factions bury the hatchet for Senate polls

KARACHI -- Differences between the two factions of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) have given birth to a third group, comprising 15 members, it was learnt on Thursday.

MQM-P infighting gives birth to third faction

In a general council meeting on September 12, the merged factions of EPS and OPS had passed a resolution stating that the AIADMK would be a unified faction and shall retrieve the two leaves symbol and the AIADMK name.

'Two leaves' symbol case: Dhinakaran alleges Centre's hand in EC order

Summary: Tensions in Sidon's Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp are worrying residents, but a new initiative by Azzam al-Ahmad, a member of the Fatah Movement's Central Committee who is in charge of managing the file of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, aspires to draw warring factions together to implement a joint security plan.