[67] Cf. Dio, LV, 9; C. I. L. I, p. 286 and 565.
[68] Dio, LV, 12, says: “The bodies of Lucius and Gaius were carried to Rome by military tribunes, and the chief men of each city; and the golden (sic) shields and spears, which they had received from the knights when they assumed the toga virilis, were suspended in the curia.”
The title of princeps juventutis is somewhat difficult to explain. The fact is attested by Zonaras, X, 35, and by an inscription found near Viterbo (cf. Mommsen R. G., p. 53), which reads: C. Cæsari Aug. f.d.n. pontif. cos. design. principi juventut, “To Caius Cæsar, son of Augustus, nephew of the divine (Julius) pontifex, consul designate, prince of the youth.” Mommsen sums up his investigation of this (Cf. R. G. p. 54, ff.): the knights were divided into turmæ, or troops, each officered by seviri, three decurions and three optios or adjutants. Gaius and Lucius were decurions of the first turma, and their title, “princes of the youth,” was a special one, and always thereafter reserved for members of the imperial family. The title does not appear to have been official, or formally bestowed, but was given by common consent of the knights.
[69] Cf. Suet. Cæs. LXXXIII: “He (Cæsar) bequeathed to the Roman people his gardens near the Tiber, and three hundred sesterces to each man.” Dio, XLIV, 35, is peculiar, saying: “Cæsar left to the people his gardens on the Tiber, and to each man one hundred and twenty sesterces, as Augustus himself says, or as others say, three hundred sesterces apiece.” May it be that Dio has reversed the facts here, and that it was “others” who reported the smaller sum and Augustus the larger? Augustus is substantiated, or followed, by Plut.; Ant., XVI, Brut., XX; App. B. C., II, 143.
Three hundred sesterces equals about fifteen dollars. The date of this disbursement is 710: its amount, supposing the minimum number of receivers, 250,000, comes to $3,750,000.
[70] The second (and the seventh, cf. Note [76]) donations belong to the year 725 and were connected with the triple triumph. Dio mentions the two together, LI, 21. Four hundred sesterces is about twenty dollars.
[71] The third donation was in 730, on the return of Augustus after subduing the Cantabri. Dio, LIII, 28, says: “Augustus gave the people a hundred denarii (four hundred sesterces) apiece, but forbade the distribution until his act should receive the sanction of the senate.” It would seem to have been unlawful to give money to the people without the consent of the senate. Probably this was a measure of precaution against demagogues.
The term congiarium, which is transferred rather than translated, means a gift, primarily of food or drink, and is derived from congius, a measure holding about three quarts, which was perhaps originally brought to be filled with grain or oil, or the like.
[72] Cf. c. 5 and Note [33]. The date was 731.
[73] The fifth distribution was in 742. We learn from Dio, LIV, 29, that in that year Agrippa died, leaving to the Roman people his gardens and bath, and that Augustus, as his executor, not only turned over these properties, but made a donation besides, as if it had been so willed by Agrippa. Cf. C. I. L., I. p. 472.