5768. At his first approach, Caesar conquered Alexandria which was a most rich and large city. {Livy, l. 133.} {*Strabo, l. 17. 8:23} {Suetonius, in Octavian, c. 17.} {Orosius, l. 6. c. 19.} As he entered Alexandria, he talked with Areius Alexandrinus, a philosopher. Caesar took him by the right hand so his country men would honour him the more when they saw him so honoured by Caesar. {Plutarch, Antony, c. 70. 9:319} Caesar had been his student in philosophy and was very well acquainted with him and his two sons, Dionysius and Nicanor. {Seneca, de Clement} {Suetonius, in Octavian, c. 89.} {Plutarch, in Politic} {*Dio, l. 51. 6:45, l. 52. 6:175} {Julian Caesar, in Octavian} &&& Areius - The Alexandrian Philosopher, is honoured by Octavian
5769. Then he went into the gymnasium and he ascended a tribunal which was set up on purpose for him. He ordered the citizens to rise, who for fear were fallen on their knees before him. In a speech, he freely pardoned all the people for three reasons. (He spoke in Greek so everyone could understand him.) He pardoned them for their great god Serapis' sake, for the greatness of the city and for his friend Areius' sake. Likewise, he pardoned all the Egyptians because he was unwilling that so many men should be put to death who in many other things had done good service for the Romans. {*Plutarch, Antony, c. 70. 9:319} {*Dio, l. 51. 6:45} {Julian, epist. 51. ad Alexand.}
5770. At the request of Arieus, he pardoned many including among others Philostratus, who was he an ablest sophister of his time. However, he incorrectly said he belonged to the school of the Academic. Therefore Caesar hated his manners and rejected his request. Therefore, Philostratus let his beard grow long and followed Areius in mourning, always repeating this verse: &&& Areius - By his entreaties Octavian pardoned Phiostratus
``The wise, while wise, a good safety has.''
5771. When Caesar heard of this, he pardoned him so that he might rather free Areius from envy, rather than Philostratus from fear. {*Plutarch, Antony, c. 70. 9:319}
5772. Young Antony or Antyllas was the older of the two sons Antony had by Fulvia and he was betrothed to Caesar's daughter, Julia. Although he fled into a shrine that Cleopatra had made for his honour, Caesar took him from the image of Julius and killed him after he made many fruitless prayers. {*Plutarch, Antony, c. 71. 9:319} {Suetonius, in Octavio. c. 17.} {*Dio, l. 51. 6:43} {Orosius, l. 6. c. 19.} As the soldiers beheaded him, Theodorus his school teacher who betrayed him, took from his neck a most precious jewel and sewed it in his belt. He denied this but it was found on him and he was crucified. {*Plutarch, Antony, c. 71. 9:319} Caesar ordered that Jullus, the other son of Antony by Fulvia, should receive all things in the estate. Jullus' freed men were ordered to give all things to him that dying men are commanded by the laws to leave to their heirs. {*Dio, l. 51. 6:45}
5773. The children that Antony had by Cleopatra, were very honourably kept with their governors and train of servants that waited on them. Caesar saved and nourished and cherished them no less than if they had been linked in an alliance with him. {Suetonius, in Octavian} {*Plutarch, Antony, c. 71. 9:319}
5774. Of those that favoured Antony, Caesar executed some and pardoned others either of his own good will or by the intercession of friends. {*Dio, l. 51. 6:45} Among those that were put to death was Canidius, a most bitter enemy always to Caesar and unfaithful to Antony, {Orosius, l. 6. c. 19.} who died most cowardly than seemed for one who bragged he was not afraid of death. {*Velleius Paterculus, l. 2. c. 87. 1:235} Q. Orinius also was put to death by Caesar's own command because he was a senator of the people of Rome and was not ashamed most basely to be governor to the queen's spinners and weavers. {Orosius, l. 6. c. 19.}
5775. Antony had many children of kings and princes. Some were kept as hostages and others by false accusations. Caesar sent some of them home and married others to each other. He kept some with him. He returned Jotape to her father, the king of the Medes, who had found asylum with him after his defeat. He did not send back Artaxas' brothers at his request because he had killed the Romans that were left behind in Armenia. {*Dio, l. 51. 6:45}
5776. When he viewed the tomb (which was of glass {*Strabo, l. 17. 8:37}) and the body of Alexander the Great, which was taken out of the vault, Caesar put a crown upon it and scattered flowers over it and worshipped it. As he touched the body, it was said he broke off a piece of his nose. He was asked if he wanted to see the bodies of the Ptolemy's and the Alexandrians really wanted him to see them. He refused and said that he would rather see a living king not the dead. {Suetonius, in Octavio. c. 18.} {*Dio, l. 51. 6:45,47} For that very reason, he would not go to see Apis because he said he usually worshipped gods not oxen. {*Dio, l.51. 6:47}
5777. Many great kings and captains desired to bury Antony. However, Caesar would not take him from Cleopatra. She buried him in a splendid and magnificent manner. Caesar allowed her to take as much as she required for his funeral. {*Plutarch, Antony, c. 72. 9:321}
5778. Through her much sorrow and grief, (for her breasts were covered with inflammations and ulcers because of the blows she had given herself,) Cleopatra had a fever which she gladly used as an excuse to stop eating so that she would die without any more trouble. She had a physician whose name was Olympas, to whom she declared the truth of the matter and used him as a councillor and assistant in her death. Olympus recorded this in his history of these events. When Caesar suspected the matter, he threatened both her and her children. She had allowed herself to become quite sick but later she allowed herself to be cured and ate properly. {*Plutarch, Antony, c. 72. 9:321}
5779. Shortly after Caesar himself came to visit her and comforted her. {*Plutarch, Antony, c. 73. 9:321} She fell down at his feet and tried in vain to seduce him for her beauty was beneath the prince's chastity. Although he perceived that she intended to stir up affections in him, yet he disguised his feelings and fixed his eyes on the ground and said only this:
``Woman be of good cheer, you shall have no harm done to you.''
5780. She did not just request life, which Caesar promised her, but she really wanted his love and the kingdom. {*Florus. l. 4. c. 11. 1:327} {*Dio, l. 51. 6:35,37}
5781. Last of all she delivered to Caesar a list of all the treasures she had. When Seleucus, one of her treasurers accused her that she had omitted some things and had not told all, she leaped up and took him by the hair and beat him soundly. Caesar smilingly reproved her, to whom she answered:
``It is not a great matter O Caesar, since you have come and visited me in this condition that I am in and to talk with me that I should be accused by my own servants as if I had reserved some jewels. These were not for myself who is a poor wretch but that I might present them to Octavia and your Lyria. I hoped that by their intercession to you that I might find more mercy and favour from you.''
5782. Caesar was glad for this and hoped that now she had a mind to live. He told her that he would do this for her and also things beyond her expectations. He departed supposing that he had deceived her. In fact he was more deceived by her! {*Plutarch, Antony, c. 73. 9:323,325}
5783. There was a young gentleman named Cornelius Dolabella who was a close friend of Caesar's. This man was in love with Cleopatra and at her request he told her secretly through a messenger that Caesar was to journey by land through Syria and that he was determined to send her and her children into Italy within three days. When she knew this, she desired of Caesar that he would permit her to pay her last respects to Antony. When she had done this, she put garlands upon the tomb and kissed it. Then she ordered a bath to be made for her. After she had bathed, she feasted sumptuously. {*Plutarch, Antony, c. 74, 75. 9:325,327}
5784. After dinner she gave Epaphroditus (to whose charge she was committed) a letter to carry to Caesar and pretended it was about some other business. The letter really contained her request to be buried with Antony. She thus excused herself and sent him on his way. {*Plutarch, Antony, c. 74. 9:325} {*Dio, l. 51. 6:39}
5785. After Epaphroditus left, Cleopatra shut the doors and only kept with her two waiting women, Iras or Nairas, and Charmion, who usually dressed her. One of them could excellently do up her hair and the other paired her nails. Cleopatra adorned herself with her best clothes that she possibly could and in her robes. She put an asp on her left arm which she had brought to her, covered with figs, grapes, and flowers, to better deceive her guards. She died from its bite as if she were in a slumber. {*Florus, l. 4. c. 11. 1:327} {*Velleius Paterculus, l. 2. c. 87. 1:233} {*Plutarch, Antony, c. 85. 9:327} {Galen., in de Theriaca ad Pisonem.} {*Dio, l. 51. 6:39} {Eutropius, l. 7.} {Orosius, l. 6. c. 19.}
5786. Other historians note the deceptive nature of Cleopatra and doubt the power of an asp to kill so quickly. They question if she actually died from the bite of an asp. Some say that Cleopatra made in her arm a large and deep wound with her teeth, (or some other thing) and put poison into the wound which she had previously prepared from an asp. The poison was brought to her in a bone. After the poison had entered her body, she peacefully ended her life and her guards did not even know it. {Galen., in de Theriaca ad Pisonem.} {*Strabo, l. 17. 8:43} {*Plutarch, in Antony, c. 85. 6:327} {*Dio, l. 51. 6:39,41} There were only two little pricks found in her arm. Caesar, who saw her dead body, carried her picture with an asp attached to her arm in his triumph. {Plutarch, in Antony, c. 86. 9:329} {*Dio, l. 51. 6:39} Horace speaks of her thus: {Horace, l. 1. Ode 37.}
--------So stout she could
With cheerful countenance behold,
Her ruined palace, asps receive,
And of their poison them bereave:
By delay in death more keen;
Envies the Liburnians they
Should she, so great a queen,
In triumph lead a secret prey.
5787. When Caesar had opened Cleopatra's letters, he knew immediately what was done. At first he thought to go there himself and sent some there quickly to see what happened. They ran there as quickly as they could and found the guards standing before the door, not knowing what had happened. When they had opened the door, they found Cleopatra dead lying upon a golden bed in all her royal robes. Iras or Nairas was fallen dead at her feet and Charmium (or Charmione) was half dead and heavy headed. She was trimming the diadem that she wore. When one in anger asked her:
``Is this well done, O Charmium?''
5788. She answered:
``Very well and becoming to one that had sprung from so many kings.''
5789. She spoke not another word but fell down there by the bedside. {*Plutarch, Antony, c. 75. 9:327,329} {*Dio, l. 51. 6:41} When Caesar had seen Cleopatra's body, he tried all means to see if it were possible to revive her. {*Dio, l. 51. 6:41} He brought in the Psylli to suck out the venom and poison but in vain. {*Plutarch, Antony, c. 75. 9:327,329} {*Dio, l. 51. 6:41} {Suetonius, in Octavio. c. 17.} {Orosius, l. 6. c. 19.}
5790. When Cleopatra was surely dead, Caesar admired and pitied her. He was very grieved and thought that he had lost the main attraction for his triumph. He ordered her body to be sumptuously and royally buried and to be laid in the same tomb with Antony. {*Plutarch, Antony, c. 66. 9:329,331} {*Dio, l. 51. 6:41} He did this honour for them in that he had them buried in the same sepulchre and to finish the tomb which they had begun. {Suetonius, in Octavian, c. 17.} Caesar ordered her women attendants to be honourably buried. {*Plutarch, Antony, c. 66. 9:331}
5791. Plutarch wrote that Cleopatra lived 39 years and reigned 22 which was the number of years from the death of her father, Ptolemy Auletes. Some historians, {Ptolemy, Catalogue of the Kings} {Clemens Alexandrinus, l. 1. Stromat.} {Porphyrius in Greek Eusebius, Scaliger, p. 226.} {Eusebius in Chronic.} and others assign only 21 years and two or three months. Plutarch wrote, that she reigned more than 14 years with Antony. Tertullian in his third book against the Jews stated that she reigned 13 under Augustus, calculating the start of the government of Antony from the death of Julius Caesar and of Augustus from his first consulship. From the death of Alexander the Great, who first founded the Macedonian Empire, to the death of Antony and Cleopatra, with whom it fell, both in Ptolemy (as well in the Catalogue of the Kings, as in the third book of his Great Work, as in Clemens Alexandrinus, in l. 1. Stromat.} lasted 294 years. We deduce the time as 293 and a quarter years.
5792. And at this time Caesar put an end to the civil wars. {Florus, l. 4. c. 12. 1:327} {Velleius Paterculus, l. 2. c. 87. 1:233,235} Dionysius of Halicarnassus also confirmed in the preface of his Roman Histories that he came into Italy as soon as Augustus Caesar had put an end to the civil wars in the middle of the 187th Olympiad. This was the beginning of the third year in the month of August after Egypt was reduced under the power of the Romans and an end made to their civil wars. The words of the decree of the senate showed in Macrobius {Macrobius, Saturnal, l. 1. c. 12.} and Censorinus stated that the Egyptians calculated from that time in which they came under the power and government of the people of Rome, the years of the Augusti, (not of the Qewn Sebaswn, as Scaliger thought, but of Caesar Augustus, who had the dominion over them.) {Censorius, c. 21. l. de natali die.} He said this book was written by him in the Philippic year of the Augusti 268 (for thus the best copies have, it not 267) from the death of Alexander the Great, 578 years and from Nabonassar 986 years. (The beginnings of these years are taken from the first of the vage or moveable month Thoth of the Egyptians.) He agreed with Ptolemy who in the third book of his great Syntaxis, says, that there elapsed from the beginning of the reign of Nabonassar to the death of Alexander, 424 Egyptian years and then to the empire of Augustus, 294 years.
5793. Therefore that Egyptian epoch began on the first day of the moveable month Thoth of the year of the Philippic account, beginning from the death of Alexander the Great, 293 years, from Nabonassar 719 years. This indeed was on the first day of the week as is found in a writing of a certain Jew, recorded at Norimberge with Messahala, namely, of the month August in 4684 JP on the 31st day, which according to the false account of leap years, that was then used at Rome, was called the 29th day of August. This was that epoch, twn apd Aulousou etnz, "of the years of Augustus", which was accommodated by Ptolemy, {Ptolemy, Synaxis, l. 3. c. 8.} to the moveable year of the Egyptians. Vettius Valens, an Antiochian, in Anqologwn geneQliakwn, to the form of both those years, and seeing that Augustus ruled Egypt 43 years (as Philo shows in his embassy to Caesar.) We find this also so many calculated his empire to be so long, in Ptolemy, Catalogue of the Kings, and Clemens Alexandrinus, l. 1. Stromat.
5794. Cleopatra had sent her son Caesarion, who she had by Caesar the dictator, with a great sum of money through Ethiopia into India. His tutor, Rhodon persuaded him to return as if Caesar had recalled him to his mother's kingdom. As Caesar was deciding what he should do with him, they say Areius, the philosopher said to him: &&& Areius - By his advice, Octavian killed Caesarion
``It is not good that Caesar's name should common be.''
5795. Therefore, Caesar put him to death, after the death of his mother. {*Plutarch, Antony, c. 81, 82 9:321} {*Dio, l. 51. 6:43}
5796. The statues of Antony were thrown down but Cleopatra's were not touched. Her friend Archibilius had obtained from Caesar for the sum of 2000 talents, that they should not be thrown down as Antony's were. {*Plutarch, Antony, c. 86. 9:331}
5797. In the palace there was a great amount of money found which was stored there by Cleopatra from the spoils of almost all the temples. She also exacted much from them that were guilty of any crime. Two thirds of their goods were demanded of the rest who could not be accused of any crime. All the soldiers arrears were paid and Caesar also gave 250 denarii to each of those soldiers who were with him so they would not plunder the city. Caesar also paid all his debts that he owed any man and gave many gifts to the senators and equestrians that had accompanied him in the war. {*Dio, l. 51. 6:49}
5798. For this part of the year Caesar chose M. Tullius Cicero for his colleague in the consulship who was the son of Cicero the orator whom Antony murdered. Cicero read the people the letters which Caesar had sent to Rome concerning the defeat of Antony in the Alexandrian war, (not Actium, as Appian erroneously wrote.) He read the copy of them in the rostrum where his father's head and hand had been previously publicly displayed. {*Plutarch, Cicero, c. 49. 7:209} {*Appian, Civil War, l. 4. c. 4. s. 20. 4:173 c. 6. s. 51. 4:229} {*Dio, l. 51. 6:53}
5799. This year on the September 13th (ides), we learn from the Marble Table at Capua that M. Tullius was chosen as the consulship to replace M. Licinius, {in Annal. tom. 3. p. 495.} and the same day that:
``When Augustus was consul with the son of M. Cicero, he was presented with an obsidional crown (wreath) by the senate.'' {Pliny, l. 22. c. 6. 6:305}
5800. There were many crowns and processions decreed for Caesar at that time in Rome. He had also another triumph granted him for subduing the Egyptians. The day when Alexandria was taken was declared a lucky day. From that day, the inhabitants should use as the starting point in their calculations of time. Caesar was given the power of tribune all his life. He would have the power to help anyone asking for it within the pomerium or one mile beyond the walls. This was not lawful for any tribune of the people to do. {*Dio, l. 51. 6:53,55}
5801. Herod wavered between love and hatred toward his wife Marriamme. He was continually incensed against her by the false accusations of his sister Salome and his mother Cyros who stirred in him hatred and jealousy against her. He may have dealt more harshly with her had not the news come very conveniently that Antony and Cleopatra were both dead and that Caesar had won Egypt. Herod hurried to meet Caesar and left his family as it was. When he left, he commended Sohemus to Mariamme, and said that he owed him much respect for the care he had for her and also gave him the government of a part of Judea. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 15. c. 11.}
5802. Caesar built a city in the same place where he defeated Antony and called it Nicopolis. He held the same plays which he had done for the former at Actium. {*Dio, l. 51. 6:49} {*Strabo, l. 17. c. 10. 8:43}
5803. Caesar had organised Egypt into the form of a province so that it might be more fruitful and suitable to produce grain for the city of Rome. His soldiers scoured all those ditches where the Nile overflows and had been choked with mud for a long time. {Suetonius, in Octavio. c. 18.} He also made some new ditches. {*Dio, l. 51. 6:49}
3975a AM, 4684 JP, 30 BC
5804. Herod met with Caesar in Egypt and in confidence of his friendship, he spoke freely with him and was highly honoured by him. Caesar gave him the 400 Galatians who were formerly Cleopatra's bodyguard and added to his kingdom, Gadara, Hippos, and Samaria as well as the cities of Gaza, Anthedon, Joppe, and the Strato's Tower. These additions increased the splendour of his kingdom. {*Josephus, Wars, l. 1. c. 15. Antiq., l. 15. c. 11.}
5805. Caesar did not commit the province of Egypt to the senate because of Egypt's large fickle population. It was too important because it was the source of grain for Rome and it had incredible wealth. He forbid any senators from even going to Egypt and he so distrusted the Egyptians that he forbid any Egyptian from becoming a senator. He permitted other cities to govern themselves after their own laws but he ordered the Alexandrians that they should govern the city without senators. {*Dio, l. 51. 6:47}
5806. Areius, the philosopher, refused the government of Egypt although it was offered to him. {Julian, ad Themistium.} Therefore, Caesar made Cornelius Gallus, who was of lowly estate, to be governor of the province of Egypt. He was the first Roman governor that Egypt ever had. {*Strabo, l. 17. 8:135} {Suetonius, in Octavian, c. 66.} (*Dio, l. 51. 6:47} {Eutropius, l. 7.} {Sextus Rufus, in Breviario.} Gallus was from Forum Julium that was the one whom Virgil in the last Eclogue of his Bucolicks speaks of in that pleasant verse. {Ammianus Marcellinus, l. 17. Hierony. in Chronic. 1.} To whom also there are Erotica (love verses) extant which were dedicated by Parthenius of Nice. Virgil imitated his prose in his Latin verses. {Aulus Gellius, l. 13. c. 25.} {Macrog. Saturnal. c. 17.} {Tiberius, Greek Poems} {Suetonius, in Tiberius, c. 70.} &&& Areius - Refused the governorship of Egypt
5807. After Caesar had settled all things in Egypt as he thought best, he went into Syria with his land forces. {*Dio, l. 51. 6:49,51} {Orosius, l. 6. c. 19.} Herod escorted him as far as Antioch. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 15. c. 11.}
5808. Tiridates fled into Syria after he was defeated and Phraates, the conqueror, sent ambassadors to Caesar. Caesar gave them both a friendly answer and did not indeed promise any help to Tiridates but gave him permission to tarry in Syria. He kindly accepted Phraates' son and brought him to Rome and kept him as an hostage. {*Dio, l. 51. 6:51} He was the youngest son of Phraates who through the negligence of those who kept him, was captured and stolen away according to Justin. {Justin, l. 42. c. 5.} However, Justin refers this event to a later time.
5809. Caesar departed from Syria. Messala (Corvinus) deceived the Cyzicenian gladiators who were allowed to live in Daphne, the suburbs of Antioch, and they were sent to various places under the pretence of being enlisted in the legions. As the occasions arose, they were killed. {*Dio, l. 51. 6:23}
5810. Caesar appointed Athenodorus as governor over Tarsus in Cilicia. He was a citizen of that city and was Caesar's teacher and the son of Sandon, a Stoic philosopher. He restored the state that was corrupted by Boethius and his soldiers who domineered there even until the death of Antony. He was slandered with the following graffiti.
``Work for the young men, counsels for the middle aged and flatulence for the old men''.
5811. He took the inscription as a joke and ordered, "Thunder for the old men" to be written beside it. Someone who was contemptuous of all decency and afflicted with a loose bowel, profusely splattered the door and wall of Athenodorus' house. The next day he said in an assembly that they could see how low the city had sunk and how sick the state was particularly from its excrements! {*Strabo, l. 14. 6:351}
5812. Caesar went into the province of Asia and made his winter quarters and settled all the affairs of his subjects. {*Dio, l. 51. 6:51} {Orosius, l. 6. c. 19.}
3975b AM, 4685 JP, 29 BC
5813. On the first of January, Caesar entered into his fifth consulship in the island of Samos. {Suetonius, in Octavio, c. 26.} On the same day, all his ordinances were confirmed by oath. At the same time that he received letters about the Parthian affairs, it was decreed, that in their songs he should be counted among their gods, a tribe should be called Julia after him, the companions of his victory should be carried in triumph with him and he should be clad with garments woven with purple and that the day when he entered Rome should be solemnized with public sacrifices and be always held sacred. {*Dio, l. 51. 6:55}
5814. Caesar permitted a temple to be built at Ephesus and Nicaea, (for those were considered the most famous cities of Asia and Bithynia) and dedicated to the city of Rome and to his father Julius. These cities should be inhabited by natural Romans. He gave permission to foreigners, whom he called Greeks, that to himself (Octavian) they might build temples. That is as the Asians at Pergamos, and the Bithynians at Nicomedia. He permitted the Pergamenians to dedicate those plays, called "Sacred", in honour of his temple. {*Dio, l. 51. 6:57} More is written about this by Tacitus on Tiberius in {Tacitus, Annals, l. 4. c. 51.}
``Augustus of most famous memory did not forbid a temple to be built in Pergamos, in honour of himself and the city of Rome.''
5815. The next summer, Caesar crossed over into Greece. {*Dio, l. 51, 6:59} on his way to his triumph for Actium. While he was at Corinth, a fisherman was sent as an ambassador to him from the island Giaros. He begged for the tribute to be reduced for they were compelled to pay 150 drachmas when they were barely able to pay 100 because the island was so poor. {*Strabo, l. 10. 5:165,167}
5816. When Caesar entered Rome, others offered sacrifices (as it was decreed) and the consul Valerius Potitius (who replaced Sextus Apuleius) sacrificed publicly for the senate and people of Rome for his coming. This was never done for anyone before that time. {*Dio, l. 51. 6:59} Caesar held three triumphs as he rode in his chariot. One was for the victory in Dalmatia, Actium and Alexandria. This lasted for three days, one triumph followed another. {Livy, l. 133.} {Suetonius, in Octavian, c. 22.} Vigil wrote this: {Vigil, Aeneid, 8.}
But when thrice Rome with Caesar's triumphs now Had rung, to the Latian gods he made a vow, Three hundred temples all the city round With joy, with plays and with applauses found.
5817. Propertius wrote: {Propertius, l. 2. Elegies, 1.}
Whether of Egypt or Nile, whose Stream into seven channels parted goes; Or of the golden chains king's necks surround, Or how the Actian beaks sail on the ground.
5818. Caesar brought these three triumphs into the city in the month of August, as the words of the decree of the senate show. {Macrobius, Saturnal. l. 1. c. 12.} This was not done on January 6th (8th of ides) when he was in Asia as Orosius wrote. {Orosius, l. 6. c. 20.} On the first day, he triumphed for the Pannonians, Dalmatians, Japydes and their neighbours, and of some people of Gaul and Germany. On the second he triumphed for his victory at sea at Actium and on the third for the conquest of Egypt. The last triumph was the most costly and magnificent and he made more preparation for it than all the rest. In it was carried in a bed the effigy of Cleopatra, (with an asp biting her arm) showing how she died. Her children by Antony, were led among the captives. They were Alexander and Cleopatra who were named the "sun" and "moon." {*Dio, l. 51. 6:61,63}
5819. Alexander, the brother of Jamblichus, the king of the Arabians was captured in the Actian war and was led in triumph and later put to death. {*Dio, l. 51. 6:7} The Cleopatra who was called the "moon" and led in triumph, was given in marriage to Juba, (who himself was led in triumph by Julius Caesar.) Caesar gave this Juba who was brought up in Italy and had followed his wars, both this Cleopatra, and his father's kingdom of Maurusia. He gave to them also the two sons of Antony and Cleopatra, namely Alexander and Ptolemy, but Juba had another son by his wife Cleopatra whom he called Ptolemy and who succeeded him in his kingdom. {*Dio, l. 51, 6:43} {*Strabo, l. 17. 8:169} {Plutarch, Caesar} {*Plutarch, Antony, c. 87. 9:331}
5820. On August 26th, (5th of the calends of September), there an altar was dedicated to "Victory" in the courthouse, as is found noted in the old marble calendar. {Gruter, Inscript. p. 133.} It was placed in the Julian courthouse and decorated with the spoils of Egypt. Caesar showed that he got the empire by goddess "Victory". He hung in the temple of his father Julius, the dedicated things which came from the Egyptian spoils. He also consecrated many things to Jupiter Capitolinus, Juno and Minerva. By a decree of the senate, all the ornaments which were hung up there previously, were removed as being defiled. {*Dio, l. 51. 6:63} He repaired the temple which was in a state of decay through age or consumed by fire. He adorned both them and others with very rich gifts. He brought into the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus one donation of 16,000 pounds of gold besides pearls and precious stones valued at 50,000,000 sesterces. {*Suetonius, in Octavian} Rome was so much enriched with the wealth of Alexandria so that the price of goods and other valuable things doubled and the interest rate fell from 12% to 4%. {*Dio, l. 51. 6:61,63} {Orosius, l. 6. c. 19.}
5821. In the fifth consulship, Caesar accepted the name of "Emperor", not such as was usually given according to the old custom for some victory, (for that he had often received both before and after) but by which all the whole government was saved. This was previously decreed to his father Julius and descendants. {*Dio. l. 52. 6:187,189} This inscription was placed this year in honour of Caesar:
``Senatus Poplusque Romanus Imp. Caesari Divi Julii F. Cos. Quinct. Design. Sex. Imper. Sept. Regublica conservata.''
``The senate and people to the emperor Caesar, the son of Julius of blessed memory, consul the fifth time, elected the sixth time Imperator the seventh for having saved the commonwealth.'' {Gruter, Inscript., p. 126.}
5822. Among the captives was Diocles Phaenix, the son of Artimidorus, the scholar of Tyrannio Amisenus and captured by Lucullus, (from whom he also was called Tyrannio.) Diocles was bought by Dimantis, a freed man of Caesar's, and was given to Terentia the wife of Cicero, (who as appears from Pliny {*Pliny l. 7. c. 48. 2:613} and Valerius Maximus {Valerius Maximus, l. 8. c. 13.} lived more than 103 years.) He was freed by her and taught at Rome and wrote 68 books. {Suidas, in Voc. Turaptwn.}
3976a AM, 4685 JP, 29 BC
5823. Caesar summoned Antiochus of Commagene before him because he had treacherously killed an ambassador of his brother's who was sent to Rome. Antiochus had a law suit with his brother. Antiochus was brought before the senate and was condemned and executed. {Dio, l. 52. 6:191}
5824. An whole year after Herod returned from Caesar, his suspicions daily increased between him and his wife Mariamme. She avoided her husband's caresses and moreover always upbraided him with the death either of her grandfather (Hyrcanus) or her brother (Aristobulus) so that Herod could barely restrain himself from striking her. When his sister, Salome heard the noise, she was greatly disturbed and sent in the butler who long before that time was prepared by her, who should tell the king that he was solicited by Mariamme, to deliver to him a love potion which whatever it was he had gotten from her. Thereupon, Herod examined the most faithful servant of Mariamme by torture because he knew that she would do nothing without his knowledge. He could not endure the torments and confessed nothing except that she was offended for some things that Sohemus had told her. When the king heard this, he cried out that Sohemus who had always been most faithful both to him and the kingdom, would never have spoken of these things unless there had not been some more secret friendship between them. Thereupon he ordered Sohemus to be apprehended and put to death. He called a council of his friends and accused his wife for planning to poison him. He used such sharp words that those who were present easily knew that the king intended that she should be condemned. Hence, she was condemned by the general consent of them all. When as they thought that she should not be quickly executed but detained in one of the king's citadels, Salome urged on the king exceedingly that she should be immediately killed. She feared that there might be some revolt among the people if she were alive and in prison. Thus was Mariamme executed. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 15. c. 11.}
5825. Her mother, Alexander, saw this and realised she could expect the same treatment from Herod. To clear herself of the same crime, she upbraided her daughter before everyone and called her most wicked and ungrateful towards her husband and that she deserved such a death who dared do such an heinous act. While she pretended these things and though she would pull her daughter by the hair, those present condemned her hypocrisy very much. Her daughter did not reply but repelled the false accusation with a resolute countenance and mind and underwent her death without fear. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 15. c. 11.}
5826. After she was executed, Herod began to be more inflamed with love for her. He often called her name and lamented her beyond all decency. Although he tried to forget her by seeking pleasure in feasting and drinking, yet nothing worked. Therefore he forgot about the government of his kingdom and was so overcome with grief that he would ask his servants to call "Mariamme", as though she were alive. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 15. c. 11.}
3976b AM, 4686 JP, 28 BC
5827. As Herod was thus affected, there came a plague which killed a large number of the people and nobility. All men thought that this plague was sent for the unjust death of the queen. This just increased the king's depression and he finally hid himself in a solitary wilderness under pretence of hunting. He afflicting himself and succumbed to a serious inflammation and pain of the neck so that he began to rave. None of the remedies relieved him but rather made the disease more painful so that they began to despair for his life. The physicians let him eat whatever he wanted because the disease was so serious and he was in so great a danger of dying anyway. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 15. c. 11.}
5828. As Herod was sick in Samaria, Alexandra, at Jerusalem, tried to capture the two citadels of the city. One was joined to the temple and the other was located within the city. Therefore she plied with their governors that they would deliver them to her and to the children of Mariamme lest if Herod die, they would be seized by others. Those who had formerly been faithful, were now more diligent in their office, because they hated Alexandra and thought it a great offence to despair of the health of their prince. These men were the king's old friends and one of them, Archialus, was the king's nephew. Thereupon they presently sent messengers to Herod to tell him of Alexandra's actions and he soon ordered her to be killed. Finally, he overcame his disease and was restored to his strength, both of body and mind. However, he had grown so cruel that for the least cause, he was ready to put anyone to death. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 15. c. 11.}
5829. The three times Octavian had a census the people are noted by Suetonius. {Suetonius, in Octavian, c. 27.} That the first were made in the lustran, that is, in the year that they calculated for the beginning of the five years when he and M. Agrippa were consuls. This is shown from the marble Capuan table. {tom. 3. Annal. Pighii. p. 495.}
``In my sixth consulship, with my colleague M. Agrippa, I numbered the people and I made another census after 41 years.''
5830. (That is from the censorships of Cn. Lentulus and L. Gellius after whom the musters were laid aside.)
``In the census Rome had forty hundred thousand and sixty three thousand citizens.''
5831. That is 4,063,000 for which Eusebius in his Chronicle has 4,164,000.
5832. Caesar held the plays that were decreed for the victory at Actium, with his wife, Agrippa. In these he showed men and boys from the patricians fighting on horseback. This was held every four years and were committed to the four orders of the priests to arrange. These were the chief priests, augurs, septemviri and quindecemviri. {*Dio, l. 53. 6:195}
5833. In the 178th Olympiad, Thebes in Egypt was razed even to the ground, (as is read in the Eusebian Chronicle), by Cornelius Gallus. Georgius Syncellus in his Chronicle from Julius Africanus stated that Gallus defeated the cities of the rebellious Egyptians. {Syncellus, p. 308.} He recovered with a few men, Heropolis which had revolted. He very suddenly put down a revolt that was raised about taxes. {*Strabo, l. 17. 8:135,137} He exhausted the city by intercepting many of them. {*Ammianus Marcellinus, l. 17. c. 4. s. 5. 1:319} He erected statues for himself almost all over Egypt and wrote his own acts on the pyramides. {*Dio, l. 53. 6:255}
3977 AM, 4687 JP, 27 BC
5834. When Caesar was consul for the seventh time, he read a speech in the senate and said that he would resign his government and turn it over to the senate and people. When he had ended his speech, many spoke and desired that he alone would take the whole administration of the government upon him. Finally, they convinced him to assume the whole government. {*Dio, l. 53. 6:171,217,219} He did this on the January 7th (7th of ides) as is shown from the Marble tables of Narbo. {Gruter, Inscriptions, p. 229.}
5835. Caesar had the empire confirmed on him by this means from the senate and the people. To appear democratic, he took upon him the empire but he said he would be very careful of the public affairs because they required the care of one that would be diligent. He positively said that he would not govern all the provinces or that he would govern them for ever that which he had now taken on to govern. Therefore he restored to the senate, the weaker provinces because they were the more peaceable. He retained the stronger provinces where there was more danger or had enemies close by or that were likely to have seditions. He did this under this pretence that the senate might safely govern the best parts of the empire and he would assume the harder more dangerous provinces. This was merely a pretence to make them disarmed and unfit for war and thus he won both the arms and the solders to his side. For this reason, Africa, Numidia, Asia and Greece, with Epirus, Dalmatia, Macedonia, Sicily, Crete, Libya, Cyrene, Bithynia, with Pontus adjoining, Sardinia, and Hispania Baetica were assigned to the senate. Caesar governed the rest of Spain, all Gaul, Germany, Coelosyria, Cilicia, Cyprus and Egypt. Caesar assumed this government over the provinces for ten year's time, within which time he promised himself he should easily reduce them to order. He added this also in a bragging way, like a young man, that if he could subdue them in a shorter time then he could sooner hand them over to the senate to manage as well. He then made patricians the governors over all the provinces. However, he appointed a man over Egypt who was not a senator but an equestrian for the reasons stated previously. He gave Africa and Asia, particularly to the senators and he assigned all the rest of the provinces to those who had been praetors. He forbad that they should receive by lot any provinces until the fifth year after they had held an office in the city. {*Dio, l. 53. 6:219-229}
5836. Upon the 13th (ides) of January, the provinces were allocated as Ovid notes. Thus speaking about Caesar Germanicus. {Ovid, Fasti, l. 1}
On the Ides the half-man priest in Jove's great feign Offers the entrails of a sheep with flame, Then all the province came to us, and then Thy grandsire was Augustus named among men.
5837. For on the same day, Caesar received the title of Augustus. Censorinus {Censorinus, de die Natali} showed this was done the fourth day later, in these words:
``On the sixteenth day before the calends of February (January 15th) the Emperor Caesar, the son of him of blessed memory, by the opinion of L. Munacius Plancus, was greeted Augustus by the senate and the rest of the citizens. He was consul for the 7th time and M. Vipsanius Agrippa was the other consul, for the 3rd time.''
5838. When Caesar had settled all things and organised the provinces into a certain form, he was surnamed Augustus. {Livy, l. 134.} This name was given him in his seventh consulship, {*Dio, l. 53. 6:235} and by the request of Plancus with the consent of the whole senate and people of Rome. {*Velleius Paterculus, l. 2. c. 91. 1:243} Suetonius wrote: {Suetonius, in Octavian, c. 7.}
``The opinion of Munacius Plancus prevailed that Caesar should be called Augustus, (though some were of opinion that he should be called Romulus, as if he also had been a founder of the city) not only because it was a new but also a more honourable name. The religious places and where anything is consecrated by the flying of birds, are called "Augusta", of growing or from the gesture or feeding of birds as also Ennius on writing about this:''
``After that noble Rome was built by sacred flight of birds.''
5839. Florus stated: {*Florus, l. 4. 1:351}
``It was also debated in the senate whether he should be called Romulus because he had founded the empire. However, the name Augustus seemed to be the more holy and venerable so that while he now lived on earth, he might be as it were deified by the name itself and title.''
5840. Dio said many similar things and notes that he was called "Augustus" by the Romans and by the Greeks from the splendour of his dignity and sanctity of the honour which was greater than human. {*Dio, l. 53. 6:235} cf. Ac 25: 21,25 17:23 2Th 2:4) Ovid added: {Ovid, Fasti, l. 1.}
All common persons have their common fame, But he with Jove enjoys an equal name, Of old most sacred things, Augusta were: Temples that name and hallowed things do bear: Yea augury depends upon this word, And whatever more Jove does afford: Let it enlarge his rule and live let all, Our coast, be guarded by a fenced wall.
5841. By this means the whole power of the people and senate was conferred upon Augustus. {*Dio, l. 53. 6:235} This name was previously held sacred and until now such as that not any governor dared take it upon himself. He assumed so large a title for the usurped empire of the world. From that day its whole commonwealth and government began to be and to remain in the possession of one man. The Greeks call this a monarchy. {Orosius, l. 6. c. 20.} The Romans began their epoch of their Augustus from the first of January. Censorinus {Censorinus, de natali die} compares the 265th year of this account with the 283rd of the Julian account. He in the next chapter puts the consulship of Marcius Censorinus and Asinius Gallus on the twentieth year of Augustus which was the 38th of the Julian account (from Julius Caesar's calendar reform).
5842. Tralles a City in Asia was destroyed by an earthquake. The gymnasium collapsed and it was later rebuilt by Caesar. {Eusebius, Chronic} {*Strabo, l. 12. c. 18. 5:517}
3978 AM, 4688 JP, 26 BC
5843. Costabarus the Idumaean and his wife Salome the sister of Herod had a disagreement. She, contrary to the custom of the Jews, sent him a bill of divorce and went to her brother Herod and told him that she preferred her brother's goodwill ahead of her marriage. She said that Costabarus was plotting seditions with Lysimachus, Antipater and Dositheus. To make her story more credible, she said that he had secretly kept and guarded within his country, Bebas' children for twelve years now from the time of the taking of Jerusalem by Herod. All this was done without the knowledge and good will of the king. As soon as Herod knew, he sent some men to their hiding places and killed them along with as many as were accomplices in crime. He did this so all of Hyrcanus' family would be killed. He removed any threat to the throne so there would be no one to resist him. {Josephus, l. 15. c. 11. <c. 7. 1:414>}
5844. Herod became more secure and departed more and more from his country's customs. He violated them with new institutions. First of all, he instituted wrestling every fifth year in honour of Caesar. To hold this, he began to build a theatre in Jerusalem and an amphitheatre in the plain. Both were of sumptuous workmanship but direct violations of Jewish customs. There was no Jewish tradition for these shows however he wanted this observed and to be proclaimed to the countries around him as well as to the foreign countries. He offered large prizes and he invited skilled wrestlers and excellent musicians along with those that played on instruments. Nothing bothered the Jews so much as the trophies which were covered with armour and they thought them to be images which were forbidden them by their law. To appease them, Herod ordered the ornaments to be removed and showed them that the trophies were merely wooden poles. After this was done all their anger was turned into laughter. {Josephus, l. 15. c. 11. <c. 8. 1:415>}
5845. THE FIFTH CALIPPIC PERIOD BEGINS.
5846. Cornelius Gallus spoke many things with much vanity against Augustus. {*Dio, l. 53. 6:255} Ovid {Ovid, Tristium, l. 2.} that was written for Augustus himself, stated:
To court Lycoris was not Gallus' shame, But he when lisped by drink defiled his name.
5847. Augustus noted his infamy and forbid him his house and to live within any of the provinces because he was so ungrateful and malevolent. Gallus was also accused of robbery, pillaging the provinces and of many other crimes first by Valerius Largus who was a most wicked man and his associate and friend. Later many others accused him who previously had flattered Gallus. They left him when they saw Largus become more powerful. It was decreed by the whole senate that Gallus was guilty and should be banished. All his goods should be confiscated for Augustus and because of this, the senate would offer sacrifices. Gallus was not able to handle his grief and feared that the nobility were highly incensed against him to whom the care of this business was committed. He fell upon his own sword and by his suicide, he prevented his condemnation. Gallus was forced to kill himself by the testimony of accusers and by the decree of the senate. Augustus indeed praised their love toward him for being so displeased for his sake. In spite of this, Augustus wept and bewailed his own misfortune that he alone could not be angry with his friends as much as he was with himself. {*Suetonius, in Octavian, c. 66.} {*Dio, l. 53. 6:255} {Ammianus Marcellinus l. 17.} {Jerome, in Chronicles} 5325. Petronius was appointed the new governor to replace Gallus in Egypt. He withstood the charge of a number of the Alexandrians who threw stones at him with only his bodyguards. He killed some of them and subdued the rest. {*Strabo, l. 17. 8:137}
5848. Polemon, the king of Pontus was included among the allies and confederates of the people of Rome. The senators were given the privilege of having the front seats in the theatres throughout his whole kingdom. {*Dio. l. 53. 6:257} It seems that from him Pontus took the name of Polemoniacus. {Justin, Novella, 8.}
3979 AM, 4689 JP, 25 BC
5849. Ten citizens of Jerusalem conspired against Herod. They hid their swords under their garments. One of them was blind and joined them to show that he was ready to suffer anything that would happen to the defenders of their country's rights. One of those whom Herod had appointed for finding out such things, discovered the plot and told Herod. When the conspirators were apprehended, they boldly drew out their swords and proclaimed that this was not for any personal gain but for the public good that they had undertaken this conspiracy. Thereupon they were led away, by the king's officers and executed by all manner of tortures. Shortly after this, the spy who exposed the plot and was hated by all, was killed by some, cut in pieces and thrown to the dogs in the presence of many men. The murderers were not caught until after long and wearisome inquisitions wre made by Herod, it was wrung out by tortures from some silly women who knew of the act. Then the authors of that murder were punished along with their whole families. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 15. c. 11. <c. 8. 1:416>}
5850. So that he would be more secure from the seditions of the tumultuous people, in the 13th year of his reign, (to be reckoned from the death of Antigonus) Herod began to fortify Samaria. It was a day's journey from Jerusalem. He called the place Sebaste. (Greek for the Latin name of Augusta) Its circumference was two and an half miles. He build a temple 300 yards long in the very middle of it which was exquisitely adorned. He arranged for many of the soldiers who had always helped him and also people of the neighbouring counties, to come and live there. {*Josephus, Antiq., l. 15. c. 11,12 <c. 8. 1:426>} Africanus calls it in the Chronicle of Georgius Syncellus, the city of the Gabinians, (p. 308.) for when Samaria was destroyed by John Hyrcanus, and rebuilt by A. Gabinius and repopulated (See note on 3947b <<4161>>) by the name of Gabiniun or Gabineiun. This can be understood only as the colony that Gabinius brought there. I am pleased that this was also noted by that man of learning and courtesy James Goarus (to whose great industry, the recent famous edition of the Georgian Chronicle is beholding.)
5851. Herod also built another fort previously called Strato's Tower to control the country. He named it Caesarea. Also in the large plain, he built a citadel and selected men by lot from his cavalry to guard it. In Galilee he built Gaba and Hesebonitis in Perea. These citadels were strategically located in the country so as to quickly put down any rebellion of the people. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 15. c. 11. <c. 8. 1:416,417>}
5852. Augustus began his ninth consulship in Tarracon (a city of the Nearer Spain,) {Suetonius, in Octavian, c. 26.} in the third year of the 188th Olympiad. The Indians asked for amity with Augustus. {Eusebius, Chronicle} Ambassadors were sent from King Pandion, {Georgius Syncellus, Chronicle, p. 311.} as we have also found noted from some Roman tables.
5853. P. Orosius confirms that there came to Augustus to Tarracon, ambassadors from the Indians who were from the farthest part of the east and from the Scythians from the north with presents from both their nations. {Orosius, l. 6. c. 21.} Horace wrote these verses about this occasion:
The lofty Scythian and the Indians late,
Came for the answer of their future fate.
5854. Horace in {Horace, l. 4. Carminum 4.} an ode to Augustus wrote:
The yet untamed Cantaber in thee,
Mede, Indian, Scythian do mirrors see:
Thou that preservest Italy from dread,
And Rome, her glory and exalted head.
5855. Florus wrote {*Florus, l. 4.1:349,351}
``The Scythians and Samatians sent their ambassadors and desired friendship. The Seres (Chinese) and the Indians who live beneath the sun, brought presentes which included precious stones, pearls and elephants. Nothing so much spoke for their sincerity as the length of the journey which had lasted four years. The complexion of the men seemed as if they had come from another world.''
5856. Suetonius wrote: {Suetonius, in Octavian, c. 21.}
``He induced the Scythians and Indians, (countries known only by name) to make suit of their own accord through ambassadors for amity with him and the people of Rome.''
5857. Eutropius also wrote: {Eutropius, l. 7.}
``The Scythians and Indians, to whom the Roman name was unknown, sent presents and ambassadors to him.''
5858. To conclude, Aurelius Victor lists other countries also:
``Indians, Scythians, Garamantis and Bactrians sent ambassadors to him to desire a league with him.''
5859. After Amyntus died, Augustus did not turn over the kingdom to his sons but made it a Roman province. From that time on, Galatia and Lycaonia began to have a Roman governor. {*Dio, l. 53. 6:261} M. Lollius the propraetor, governed that province. {Eusebius, Chronicles} {Eutropius, l. 7.} {Sextus Rufus, Breviary.} However, the towns of Pamphylia which were formerly given to Amyntus were restored to their own district. {*Dio, l. 53. 6:261}
5860. In the 13th year of Herod's reign, very grievous calamities befell the country of the Jews. First there was a continual drought followed by a famine. The change in diet caused by the famine, caused a pestilent disease in the land. Herod had not means enough to supply the public needs. He melted everything in the palace that contained gold or silver. He spared nothing no matter how exquisitely it was made. He even melted down his own dinner plates and cups. He made money from this and sent it to Egypt when Petronius was governor there. Although he was plagued by a number who had fled to him from the famine, yet because he was privately Herod's friend and desired the preservation of his subjects, therefore he especially gave them permission to export grain. He helped them in the buying and in the shipping of the grain. So that the greatest means of the preservation of the country was attributed to Petronius. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 15. c. 12. <c. 9. 1:417>}
5861. As soon as Herod had the grain, he first of all very carefully divided it to those who could not take care of themselves. Since there were many who through old age or some other disability could not prepare it for themselves, he assigned to them certain cooks so that they might have their food prepared. By his diligence, the people changed their minds toward him and he was praised as a bountiful and providential prince. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 15. c. 12 <c. 9. 1:418>}
5862. From the 29th of August (that is, the third day before the beginning of the Syrian month Elul or of our September) on the 6th day of the week, the Egyptian epoch started which Albatenius in the 32nd Chapter of his astronomical work calls Al-kept (that is, of the Coptitiae or Egyptians.) He said the account and order of the motions of the stars are determined from Theon's calculations. To which from the account Dilkarnaim (or of the Seleucidae, which he begins with the Syrians, from the beginning of Elul or September) he says there have passed 287 years. This is how it reads in the manuscript, not as published, 387. For in this year, the first day of the month Thoth, both in the moveable year of the Egyptians, as in the fixed year of the Grecians and Alexandrians (as Theon speaks) was found to fall upon the same day (of August in the Julian account 29th.) This happens only after the full period of 1460 of the Alexandrian years and of the Egyptian, 1641 years which shows the renewing or constitution of either year.
``This renewing happened to be made after 1460 years from a certain beginning of time, namely, the fifth year of the reign of Augustus.''
5863. This is according to Theon in the explanation of mt pente eth, that is being ended or five years after the beginning of the empire of Augustus. Both Theon and Ptolemy agreed that this began 294 years after the death of Alexander or the Philippic account. From this Philippic account even to this constitution are 299 years as correctly noted in the astronomical epitome of Theodorus Metochita. Panodorus, the Alexandrian monk, did not intend anything else in discussing this period and constitution of 1460 years which happened on August 29th from the epoch of which he wrote that account. The motions of the stars and the eclipses are to ordered in the astronomical calculations. However, Georgius Syncellus who was very unskilful in these matters in his chronicle {George Syncellus, Chronicle, p. 312, 313.} in telling his opinion, clearly perverted the meaning because he did not understand it.
3980a AM, 4689 JP, 25 BC
5864. Herod provided for his subjects against the harshness of the winter so that everyone would have proper clothing since their cattle were dead and there was a shortage of wool and other things. When he had provided for his own subjects, he took care also of the neighbouring cities of the Syrians. He gave seed for sowing. All the citadels and cities and the common people who had large families came to Herod for help and he was able to help the foreigners too. He gave 10,000 cors of grain to foreigners (100,000 Athenian medimni or 600,000 bushels) and 80,000 cors (800,000 Athenian medimni or 4,800,000 bushels) to his own subjects. (1 cor = 10 Athenian medimni) (1 Athenian medimni = 6 bushels) {Josephus, Antiq. l. 15. c. 12. <c. 9. 1:418>}
5865. Since Augustus was ill, he could not attend at Rome the marriage of his daughter and Marcellus, the son of his sister Octavia. He solemnized it with the help of M. Agrippa. {*Dio, l. 53. 6:206}
3980b AM, 4690 JP, 24 BC
5866. On the first of January when Augustus entered his tenth consulship, the senate confirmed by oath that they approved of all his acts. He had promised every man in Rome 400 sesterces (100 denarii).
5867. When he approached near the city, (from which he had been a long time absent because of his illness) he said that before he would give the money, the senate must give their assent. The senate then freed him from legal constraints and that he should have absolute power and be sole emperor to do as he wished. {*Dio, l. 53. 6:265, 267}
5868. As soon as the grain was ready to harvest, Herod sent 50,000 men, whom he had fed in time of the famine to their own countries and to his neighbours, the Syrians. By his diligence, Herod restored the almost ruined estate of his own subjects and greatly helped his neighbours, who were afflicted with the same calamities. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 15. c. 12. <c. 9. 1:418>}
5869. At the same time, Herod sent 500 select men to Caesar for his bodyguards. Aelius Gallus led these men to the wars with Arabia where they preformed valiantly. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 15. c. 12. <c. 9. 1:418>}
5870. Aelius Gallus (incorrectly called Aelius Largus in the later editions of Dio)
``was of the equestrian order'' {*Pliny, l. 6. c. 32. 2:459}
5871. He was the third governor of Egypt under Augustus, of whom Strabo makes mention as his friend and companion. {*Strabo, l. 2. c. 12. 1:453,455} Strabo wrote that both of them saw the statue of Memnon at Thebes. {*Strabo, l. 17. 8:123} Augustus sent him with part of the Roman garrison that was in Egypt into Arabia, {*Strabo, l. 2. c. 12. 1:453,455 l. 17. c. 54. 8:137} so that he might try to subdue those countries. This was on the border of the Ethiopians and Troglodytica beside Egypt and near the Arabian Gulf. It is very narrow here and separates the Arabians from the Troglodytae. Augustus advised him to make peace with them if they would otherwise to subdue them by force. {*Strabo, l. 16. c. 32. 7:353,355}
5872. For this expedition into Arabia, Aelius built 80 ships of two and three tiers of oars on a side, and some light galleys at Cleopatris, which was near the old canal of Nile. When there was no chance of any naval battle with the Arabians, he corrected his mistake and built 130 cargo ships. He sailed with 10,000 troops of Roman foot soldiers and their allies. These included 500 Jews and 1000 Nabateans under Syllaeus. {*Strabo, l. 16. c. 23. 7:355,357}
5873. At that time, Obodes was king of the Nabateans and was a slothful and lazy man especially about military matters. This was a common vice of all the Arabian kings. He had committed the government of his affairs to Syllaeus, who was a young, crafty man. {*Strabo, l. 16. c. 24. 7:357} {Josephus, l. 16. c. 11.} Syllaeus had promised Aelius that he would be his guide and would help him with provisions and anything he should need. However, he acted treacherously in all matters. He did not lead them safely by land or sea but through byways and circuitous barren routes. He took them to shores that were unfit for harbour and had dangerous submerged rocks or miry bogs because the sea never refreshed those places. {*Strabo, l. 16. c. 23. 7:357}