Titus Livius (Livy), Ab urbe condita, Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D. (Editor), Frank Gardener Moore (Editor), Evan T. Sage, Ph.D. (Editor), Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D. (Editor), 39.22

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Section

← Previous Next →

[1] About the time that these reports were brought from Spain, the Taurian Games¹ were performed for two days for religious reasons.² Then for ten days, with great magnificence, Marcus Fulvius gave the games which he had vowed during the Aetolian war.³

[2] Many actors too came from Greece to do him honour. Also a contest of athletes⁴ was then for the first time made a spectacle for the Romans and a hunt of lions and panthers was given, and the games, in number and variety, were celebrated in a manner almost like that of the present time.⁵

[3] Then a nine-day feast took place because in Picenum through three days there had been showers of stones, and especially because flames shining in the sky in many places were said to have set fire to the garments of many when a light breeze blew upon them.

[4] A one-day period of prayer was also added by decree of the pontiffs because the temple of Ops on the Capitoline had been struck by lightning.

[5] The consuls atoned for this with full-grown victims and purified the City. About the same time it was reported too from Umbria that a hermaphrodite⁶ about twelve years old had been discovered. In their fear and awe of this portent they ordered the prodigy to be removed from Roman soil and killed as soon as possible.⁷

[6] In the same year Transalpine Gauls, crossing into Venetia without any devastation or war, took possession of a site for founding a town not far from where Aquileia now stands.

[7] Roman ambassadors sent across the Alps to inquire into the matter received the reply that this party had not set out with the authority of the state, nor did they know what they were doing in Italy.⁸

[8] Lucius Scipio at this time celebrated for ten days the games which he said he had vowed during the war with Antiochus, with money contributed for the purpose by the kings and cities.

[9] Valerius Antias is the authority for the statement that after his condemnation and the sale of his property he had been sent as an ambassador to Asia to resolve the disputes between the two kings, Antiochus and Eumenes:

[10] he adds that at that time the money was contributed to him and artists collected throughout Asia, and that finally, after his embassy, action was taken in the senate about these games, of which he had made no mention after the war in which he said that they had been vowed.⁹

Ab urbe condita. Titus Livius (Livy). Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D. (Editor), Frank Gardener Moore (Editor), Evan T. Sage, Ph.D. (Editor), Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D. (Editor). Medford, MA. .

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

History of Rome (English) (Foster, Benjamin Oliver; Moore, Frank Gardener; Sage, Evan T.; Schlesinger, Alfred C., translators. Cambridge, Mass.; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann, Ltd., 1919-1959. (Loeb Classical Library))

Editions (3)

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Pars I-IV, Libri I-XL. Editio Stereotypica. Weissenborn, Wilhelm; Mueller, Moritz, editors. Leipzig: Teubner, 1884-1911.) — 39.22 focus

[1] per eos dies, quibus haec ex Hispania nuntiata sunt, ludi Taurii per biduum facti religionis causa. decem deinde dies magno apparatu ludos M. Fulvius, quos voverat Aetolico bello, fecit.

[2] multi artifices ex (iraecia Graecia venerunt honoris eius causa. athletarum quoque certamen tur tum primo Romanis spectaculo fuit, et venatio data leonum et pantherarum, et prope huius saeculi copia ac varietate ludicrum celebratum est. novemdiale deinde sacrum tenuit,

[3] quod in Piceno per triduum lapidibus pluerat, ignesque caelestes multifariam orti adussisse complurium levi adflatu vestimenta maxime dicebantur.

[4] addita et unum diem supplicatio est ex decreto pontificum, quod aedis Opis in Capitolio de caelo tacta erat.

[5] hostiis maioribus consules procurarunt urbemque lustraverunt. sub idem tempus et ex Umbria nuntiatum est semimarem duodecim ferme annos natum inventum. id prodigiunl prodigium abominantes arceri Romano agro necarique quam primum iusserunt.

[6] eodem anno Galli Transalpini transgressi in Venetiam sine populatione aut bello baud haud procul inde, ubi nunc Aquileia est, locum oppido condendo ceperunt.

[7] legatis Romanis de ea re trans Alpes missis responsum est neque profectos ex auctoritate gentis eos, nec quid in Italia facerent sese scire. L. Scipio ludos eo tempore,

[8] quos bello Antiochi vovisse sese dicebat, ex collata ad id pecunia ab regibus civitatibusque per dies decem fecit.

[9] legatum eum post damnationem et bona vendita missum in Asiani ad dirimenda inter Antiochum et Eumenem reges certamina Valerius Antias est auctor:

[10] turn tum collatas ei pecunias congregatosque per Asiam artifices, et quorum ludorum post bellum, in quo votes votos diceret, mentionem non fecisset, de iis post legationem demum in senatu actum.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Livy in Fourteen Volumes. Foster, Benjamin Oliver; Moore, Frank Gardener; Schlesinger, Alfred C., editors. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd., 1919-1959 (printing).) — 43.22 focus

[1]

eo die ad finem agri Aetolici ¹ castra posita; inde altero die ad Stratum perventum;

[2] ubi prope Inachum amnem castris positis, ² cum expectaret effusos omnibus portis ³ Aetolos in fidem suam venturos, clausas portas atque ipsa ea nocte qua venerat receptum Romanum praesidium cum C. Popilio legato invenit.

[3] principes , qui praesentis Archidami auctoritate compulsi regem arcessierant, obviam egresso Archidamo segniores facti locum adversae factioni dederant ad Popilium cum mille peditibus ab Ambracia accersendum.

[4] in tempore et Dinarchus, praefectus equitum gentis Aetolorum, cum sescentis peditibus et equitibus centum venit. ⁴

[5] satis constabat ⁵ eum tamquam ad Persea tendentem Stratum venisse, mutato deinde cum fortuna animo Romanis se, adversus quos venerat, iunxisse.

[6] nec Popilius securior quam debebat esse inter tam mobilia ingenia erat. claves portarum custodiamque murorum suae extemplo potestatis fecit;

[7] dinarchum Aetolosque cum iuventute Stratiorum in arcem per praesidii speciem amovit.

[8] Perseus ab imminentibus superiori parti urbis tumulis temptatis colloquiis, cum obstinatos atque etiam telis procul arcentis ⁶⁷ videret, quinque milia passuum ab urbe trans Petitarum amnem posuit castra.

[9] ibi consilio advocato cum Archidamus Epirotarumque transfugae retinerent, Macedonum ⁸ principes non pugnandum cum infesto tempore anni censerent, nullis praeparatis commeatibus,

[10] cum inopiam prius obsidentes quam obsessi sensuri ⁹ essent, maxime quod hostium haud ¹⁰ procul inde hiberna erant, territus in Aperantiam castra movit.

[11] aperanti aperantii eum ¹¹ propter Archidami magnam in ea gente gratiam auctoritatemque consensu omnium acceperunt; is ipse cum octingentorum militum ¹² praesidio his est praepositus.

Ab urbe condita libri, erklärt von M. Weissenborn Perseus (Weissenborn, W.; Müller, H. J., editors. Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1873-1883.) — 39.22 focus

[1]

per eos dies, quibus haec ex Hispania nuntiata sunt, ludi Taurii per biduum facti religionis causa. decem adparatos deinde ludos M. Fulvius , quos voverat Aetolico bello, fecit.

[2] multi artifices ex Graecia venerunt honoris eius causa. athletarum ¹ quoque certamen tum primo Romanis spectaculo fuit, et venatio data leonum et pantherarum, et prope huius saeculi copia ac varietate ludicrum celebratum est.

[3] novemdiale deinde sacrum tenuit, quod in Piceno per triduum lapidibus pluverat, ignesque caelestes multifariam orti adussisse complurium levi adflatu vestimenta maxime dicebantur.

[4] addita et unum diem supplicatio est ex decreto pontificum, quod aedis Opis in Capitolio de caelo tacta erat. hostiis maioribus consules procurarunt urbemque lustraverunt.

[5] sub idem tempus et ex Umbria nuntiatum est semimarem duodecim ferme annos natum inventum. id prodigium abominantes arceri Romano agro necarique quam primum iusserunt.

[6] eodem anno Galli Transalpini transgressi in Venetiam sine ² populatione aut bello haud procul inde, ubi nunc Aquileia est, locum oppido condendo ceperunt.

[7] legatis Romanis de ea re trans Alpes missis responsum est neque profectos ex auctoritate gentis eos nec, quid in Italia facerent, sese scire.

[8] L. Scipio ludos eo tempore, quos bello Antiochi vovisse sese dicebat, ex conlata ad id pecunia ab regibus civitatibusque per dies decem fecit.

[9] legatum eum post damnationem et bona vendita missum in Asiam ad dirimenda inter Antiochum et Eumenem reges certamina Valerius Antias est auctor;

[10] tum conlatas ei pecunias congregatosque per Asiam artifices, et quorum ludorum post bellum, in quo votos diceret, mentionem non fecisset, de iis post legationem demum in senatu actum.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 39.22 focus

[1]

During the time in which this intelligence was announced from Spain, the games called Taurilia ¹ were celebrated, during two days, on a religious account. Then Marcus Fulvius exhibited games, which he had vowed in the Aetolian war, and which lasted ten days. Many artists, out of respect to him, came from Greece on the occasion; and now, for the first time, the Romans had

[2] an opportunity of seeing contests of wrestlers; they were also presented with a hunt of lions and panthers; the games were celebrated with almost the variety and abundance of the present age. The nine days' solemnity succeeded, because showers of stones had fallen, for three days, in Picenum; and fires from heaven were said to have arisen in various places, and singed the

[3] clothes of many persons by slight flashes. By order of the pontiffs, a supplication, of one day's continuance, was added because the temple of Ops, in the Capitol, was struck by

[4] lightning. The consuls sacrificed victims of the larger kinds, and purified the city. At the same time, an account was brought from Umbria, of a hermaphrodite, twelve years old, being found there. The consuls wishing to get rid of the prodigy, as it was a fearful omen, ordered that it should be removed instantly out of the Roman territory, and put to death. During

[5] this year, a body of Transalpine Gauls came into Venetia, without committing depredation or hostility, and pitched on a spot for building a town, not far from that where Aquileia now stands. Ambassadors were sent from Rome, over the Alps,

[6] on this business, and to them an answer was given that

they had not emigrated by the authority of their state, nor did their countrymen know what they were doing in Italy.

About this time Lucius Scipio

[7] celebrated games, which he said he had vowed during the war with Antiochus; they lasted ten days, and the money was contributed for the purpose by the kings and

[8] states of Asia. Valerius Antias asserts, that, after his condemnation, and the sale of his effects, he was sent as ambassador into Asia, to adjust disputes between the kings Antiochus and Eumenes; that there the money was contributed for him, and actors collected through Asia: and that after his

[9] embassy, the subject of those games (of which he had made no mention after the war, in which he asserted that they had been vowed) was at length introduced in the senate-house.

History of Rome Perseus (Volumes 1-2. Roberts, Canon, Rev, translator. London, New York: J. M. Dent and Sons; E. P. Dutton and Co., 1912.) — 39.22 focus

[1]

At the time when this intelligence was received from Spain, the "Taurii" Games were celebrated as a special religious observance. These were followed by the Games which M. Fulvius had vowed in the Aetolian war and were exhibited for ten days.

[2] Many actors from Greece came to do him honour, and athletic contests were witnessed for the first time in Rome. The hunting of lions and panthers formed a novel feature, and the whole spectacle presented almost as much splendour and variety as those of the present day. A shower of stones, lasting three days, fell at Picenum, and fire from the sky was said to have appeared in various places and singed many persons' garments.

[3] In consequence of these portents, special religious services were held for nine days.

[4] An additional day's service was ordered by the pontiffs owing to the temple of Ops on the Capitol being struck by lightning. The consuls sacrificed full-grown victims and purified the City.

[5] Almost at the same time a report came from Umbria of the discovery of a child there, nine years old, who was a hermaphrodite. Horrified at such a portent the auruspices gave orders for it to be removed from Roman soil as speedily as possible and put to death.

[6] During the year some transalpine Gauls moved into Venetia without doing any damage or attempting hostilities. They took possession of some land not far from where Aquileia now stands on which to build a town.

[7] Roman envoys were sent across the Alps to inquire about this proceeding, and they were informed that the migration had taken place without the authority of their tribe, nor did they know what they were doing in Italy.

[8] L. Scipio now exhibited for ten days the Games which he said that he had vowed in the war with Antiochus; the cost was met by money contributed by the kings and cities of Asia.

[9] According to Valerius Antias, he was sent, after his condemnation and the sale of his property, as special commissioner to settle the differences between Antiochus and Eumenes, and whilst he was on this mission contributions in money were made for him, and actors gathered together from all parts of Asia.

[10] He had made no mention of these Games after the war in which he said that he had vowed them; it was only after his mission that they came before the senate.

Notes on the current edition

Ab Urbe Condita With An English Translation, books 1-10, 21-45, with periochae 11-20

1. These games, instituted under the monarchy, were in honour of the gods of the lower world.

2. While the expression is vague, it would seem that there was some special reason for celebrating these games at this time.

3. Cf. v. 7-10 above. If the emendation here adopted is correct, Fulvius probably exceeded his appropriation of 80,000 sesterces there mentioned.

4. They were probably boxers or wrestlers.

5. The Greek features of the games were marks of the Greek culture of Fulvius.

6. B.C. 186

7. Cf. the treatment of a similar creature reported at XXXI. xii. 8.

8. This is the first invasion of Italy over the eastern passes of the Alps. Possibly these invaders were not Gauls, but came from farther east.

9. Neither the vow nor the embassy is mentioned elsewhere by Livy.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 39.22

Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D. (Editor), Frank Gardener Moore (Editor), Evan T. Sage, Ph.D. (Editor), Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D. (Editor)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Perseus

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers