The Lives of the Caesars, Suetonius [best book club books for discussion .TXT] 📗

Augustus, 22. ↩

He assumed a fifth consulship in 68; see Nero, 43 below. ↩

See Julius, 76.2, where, however, the man’s name is not mentioned. ↩

See Augustus, 65.2. ↩

This was undoubtedly after the great fire; see Nero, 38. ↩

Various attempts had however been made to check this form of luxury; see Claudius, 40.1. ↩

Because of their disorderly conduct; see Nero, 26.2, and Tacitus Annals 13.25. ↩

The tablets consisted of three leaves, two of which were bound together and sealed. The contract was written twice, on the open leaf and on the closed ones. In cases of dispute the seals were broken in the presence of the signers and the two versions compared. ↩

As witnesses. The testator afterwards wrote the names of the heirs on these leaves. ↩

The Cincian law of 204 BC forbade fees. Augustus renewed the law in 17 BC (Dio, 54.18). Claudius limited fees to 10,000 sesterces (Tacitus Annals 11.5⁠–⁠6). The senate again abolished fees at the beginning of Nero’s reign (Tacitus Annals 13.5), but Nero apparently revived the law of Claudius, with a provision against the addition of “costs.” ↩

Instead of coming before the prefects of the treasury; cf. Claudius, 9.2. ↩

That is, his adoptive father Claudius. ↩

Of Corinth; cf. Julius, 44.3. ↩

Roman measure; a little under 5 ft. 10 in. English. ↩

Cf. Gellius, Noctes Atticae 13.31.3. ↩

It collapsed in consequence, but not until the audience had dispersed; see Tacitus Annals 15.34. ↩

Literally, “full-packed,” i.e. full of sound, sonorous. ↩

The first seems to have derived its name from the sound, which was like the humming of bees, the second and third from clapping with the hands rounded or hollowed, like roof-tiles, or flat, like bricks or flat tiles. ↩

See Nero, 12.3. ↩

Probably asking for the favourable attention of the audience; cf. Dio, 61.20 and Nero, 23.3. ↩

That is, those given by the magistrates; under the Empire all but the emperor were privati, regardless of their official positions. ↩

By his guardian and teachers. ↩

See note on Caligula, 55.2. ↩

The signal for the start. ↩

Nero, 19.1. ↩

Cf. Juvenal VIII.224 ff. ↩

Of the theatre; for a similar use of murus see Nero, 38.1. ↩

Oppida, the term applied to the towers and other structures at the entrance to the Circus, seems to be used here of the corresponding part of the theatre. ↩

The use of a handkerchief was not allowed; see also Tacitus Annals 16.4. ↩

The hypocrites (hypocrita) made the gestures and accompanied the tragic actor on the flute, as he spoke his lines. ↩

The heralds for the great festivals were selected by competition among the rival candidates. ↩

The Greek term hieronices, “victor in the sacred games,” indicates the religious nature of the festivals. ↩

That is, with local self-government, not with actual independence. ↩

See note on Nero, 25. ↩

See Nero, 20.3. ↩

To make more room for the procession, which passed through the Circus (Dio, 63.20). The reference is probably to the gateway at the eastern end, through which the procession entered and passed out again, after marching around the spina (see note on Claudius, 21.3). Suetonius mentions only the exit from the Circus. In his time the gateway was formed by the Arch of Vespasian and Titus, erected by Domitian in 81 AD ↩

That is, songbirds, as a compliments to Nero’s voice; the other offerings were also typical of his art and his triumph. ↩

Cf. Augustus, 84.2. ↩

Quintana is really the market of a camp, named from the Quintana via, one of the streets of a Roman camp, on which the market was regularly placed. ↩

See note on Nero, 5.1. ↩

Julius Montanus; see Tacitus Annals 13.25. ↩

And their bands of partisans; see Nero, 16.2. ↩

Made for sea-fights; see Augustus, 43.1; Tiberius, 72.1. ↩

With mitellita and rosaria we may supply cena; the former means a banquet at which silken turbans were a distinguishing feature. ↩

Cf. Claudius, 16.4. ↩

Used in a double sense. ↩

That is, could balance the account of their expenditures. ↩

See Nero, 13. ↩

That is, for each pip of the winning throw. ↩

Celebrated horsemen of Mauretania. ↩

See note on Augustus, 25.3. ↩

That is, with three parallel rows of columns. ↩

One may compare Hadrian’s villa at Tibur (Tivoli) with its Canopus, its Vale of Tempe, and the like. ↩

Suetonius’ brevity is here inexact; it was evidently the spherical ceiling which revolved. ↩

That is, had left him nothing in their wills, or an insufficient amount. ↩

See Nero,