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

But the text and the meaning are uncertain. Cf. Juvenal 8.213. ↩

There is obviously a pun on Galli, “Gauls,” and galli, “cocks,” and on cantare in the sense of “sing” and of “crow.” ↩

Punning of course on Vindex, the leader of the revolt. ↩

On the first of January, for the prosperity of the emperor and the State. ↩

Of course used in a double sense. ↩

Pliny Natural History 37.29, tells us that the cups were of crystal. ↩

Virgil Aeneid 12.646. ↩

In the Palace. ↩

See Nero, 30.2. ↩

The word percussor implies experience in dealing death. Nero wished to be killed swiftly and painlessly. ↩

Referring to a drink of his own contrivance, distilled water cooled in snow; cf. Pliny Natural History 31.40. ↩

Cella implies a small room, for the use of slaves. ↩

The water was for washing the corpse and the fire for burning it. ↩

Cf. Claudius, 34.1. ↩

Two pieces of wood, fastened together in the form of a V. ↩

Iliad, 10.535. ↩

See Domitian, 14.4. ↩

See Galba, 14.2. ↩

The modern Pincio. ↩

This synthesina (sc. vestis), or synthesis, was a loose robe of bright-coloured silk, worn at dinner, during the Saturnalia, and by women at other times. Nero’s is described by Dio, 63.13, as “a short, flowered tunic with a muslin collar.” ↩

Probably meaning “in slippers.” ↩

See note on Augustus, 97.1. Here lustrum is applied to the five-year period of the Olympic games. ↩

Atargatis, the principal deity of Northern Syria, identified with Magna Mater and Caelestis; often mentioned in inscriptions and called by Apul. Metamorphoses 8.25, omnipotens et omniparens. ↩

See note on Tiberius, 4.2. ↩

In 88, Terentius Maximus by name; another pseudo-Nero had appeared in 70; see Tacitus Histories 2.8. ↩

Nero was the last who bore the name because of connection with the family of Augustus; after him it became a designation of rank. ↩

“The Hen Roost.” ↩

Those which they carried in their triumph, according to Pliny, Natural History 15.136 f. ↩

No such temple is known. ↩

No existing inscription confirms this statement. ↩

That is, of those of the Sulpicii who bore the surname Galba. ↩

The gum of a Syrian plant; see Pliny Natural History 12.126. ↩

See Nero, 3.1. ↩

That is, after his consulship. Tiberius doubtless suspected him of a desire to enrich himself at the expense of the provincials; cf. Tiberius, 32.2, at the end. ↩

The usual procedure, to avert the evil omen. ↩

Proverbial for “never,” like the Greek Kalends (Augustus, 87.1). ↩

To marry and rear a family was regarded as one of the duties of a good citizen. ↩

Cf. Nero, 11.2. ↩

That is to say, entering office on January 1, and with his colleague, L. Cornelius Sulla, giving his name to the year. ↩

Either Suetonius is in error or the manuscripts; the name should be Gnaeus. ↩

See Caligula, 43 and 44. ↩

Cf. Caligula, 26.2. ↩

Except in special cases, the governors were appointed by lot from among those who were eligible. ↩

The modius was 8.75 litres. ↩

See note on Julius, 79.3. ↩

The sodales Titii were an ancient priesthood of uncertain origin. The tradition arose that they were established to keep up the ancient Sabine worship, and named from Titus Tatius. ↩

See note on Claudius, 6.2. ↩

So as to be able to leave the country on short notice. ↩

See note on Claudius, 24.1. ↩

Such predictions, like the responses of oracles, were in verse. ↩

Instead of the emperor, as heretofore. ↩

Evocati were soldiers who, after serving their time, were invited to continue their service. It is here an honorary title. ↩

See note on Julius, 33. ↩

See Galba, 10.1. ↩

See note on Galba, 1. ↩

See note on Claudius, 24.1. ↩

Cf. Augustus, 24.2; Caligula, 48.1. ↩

Cf. Augustus, 49.1; Caligula, 58.3. ↩

Doubtless many of them were false or exaggerated. Galba’s frugality was naturally regarded as stinginess by a people accustomed to a prince like Nero; see Nero, 31.1. ↩

Plutarch, Galba, XVI, gives the story quite a different aspect, saying that the gift was of gold pieces, and that Galba said that it came from his own pocket, and not from the public funds. ↩

The text is uncertain, but obviously the song ridiculed a stingy old countryman. ↩

Cf. the inimitable sentence of Tacitus (Histories 1.49) maior privatus visus, dum privatus, et omnium