[1697] Tiberius characteristically enough would not have his acta sworn to during his lifetime (Tac. Ann. i. 72; Suet. Tib. 67), and some thought the motive was “ne mox majore dedecore impar tantis honoribus inveniretur” (Suet. l.c.). His objection to his own deification was interpreted by some as a sign “degeneris animi” (Tac. Ann. iv. 38).
[1698] Dio Cass. iii. 20. Here it is made the age for entrance into the Senate; but the completion of the twenty-fifth year is meant. Cf. Quintil. Inst. Or. xii. 6, 1 “quaestoria aetas.”
[1699] Dio Cass. l.c. Dispensations from these rules might be given by the Senate, in accordance with the jus liberorum (“ut singuli anni per singulos liberos remittantur” Dig. 4, 4, 2), or to members of the imperial house (Tac. Ann. iii. 29 “Per idem tempus (A.D. 20) Neronem e liberis Germanici jam ingressum juventam (Tiberius) commendavit patribus, utque munere capessendi vigintiviratus solveretur et quinquennio maturius quam per leges quaesturam peteret ... postulavit”).
[1700] Dio Cass. liv. 26; cf. Tac. Ann. iii. 29, quoted in the last note.
[1701] In inscriptions of the early Principate the vigintivirate is sometimes not found in the list of honores. But it is more probable that it is omitted than that it was an alternative to the military tribunate. See Mommsen Staatsr. i. p. 544 n. 4.
[1702] Dio Cass. lii. 20.
[1703] Its use by Macrinus in the third century excited opposition (Dio Cass. lxxviii. 13). See Mommsen Staatsr. ii. p. 942.
[1704] Dio Cass. liv. 19 (of Tiberius in 16 B.C.) ἐστρατήγησε γάρ, καίπερ τὰς στρατηγικὰς τιμὰς ἔχων (Tiberius had received the ornamenta praetoria in 19 B.C., see c. 10); c. 32 Drusus ἀγορανόμος ... καίπερ τὰς στρατηγικὰς τιμὰς ἔχων ἀπεδείχθη: cf. c. 22.
[1705] Suet. Aug. 35; Dio Cass. lviii. 12.
[1706] Mommsen Staatsr. i. p. 458.