[129] Stibium. A cosmetic much used by the Roman ladies—a powder made of baked antimony, known at the present day among the orientals by the name of Surmé.
[130] First there was the great procession from the Capitol to the Circus Maximus. The centennial games commenced with a festal procession (called pompa) whose route corresponded with the description given here, and which closed with the chariots, that were to appear in the races in the Circus Maximus. These, however, usually played a more conspicuous part than in our story, where they are treated more as an introduction.
[131] The Consul Flavius Clemens. See [note 137], Vol. I. Pyat has made the fall of this (historical) Flavius Clemens the subject of a novelette—unfortunately faulty in coloring—from which I have used some outlines for my story. Flavius Clemens’ relations to Christianity are told by Dio Cassius, (LXVII, 14.) and Suet. (Dom. 15.)
[132] Ivory tickets of admission. Such admission tickets (made also of clay and metal) have been found in large numbers during the excavations of the last decade.
[133] An attendant in a gaily-colored holiday tunic, (designator) corresponds with our box-opener or usher.
[134] The cushions, which a slave had carried in for them. The rows of seats consisted of marble blocks, which during the spectacle were covered with cushions and seats of honor (bisellia.)
[135] Every part was as gay as a flower-garden with gorgeous dresses. Every one appeared at the public spectacles in full gala dress. Those who possessed but one toga sent it before the festival to the fuller (fullo) to be cleansed and smoothed. The fuller’s work is very clearly depicted in the frescos on a fuller’s shop, excavated in Pompeii in 1826. See [note 33], Vol. II.
[136] The gaudily-gilt podium, kept for the senators. The senators had special seats reserved for them at all public spectacles.
[137] Broken vow. Concerning the broken vows of vestal virgins, see Suet. Dom. 8. If the crime was discovered, Domitian’s government treated the culprit more harshly than those of Vitellius and Titus, indeed the severity increased at each instance. The vestals Ocellata and Varonilla were granted the choice of the manner of death, but their betrayers were exiled. In later times, however, Domitian ordered the vestal Cornelia to be buried alive, and her lovers—for she had several—to be flogged to death in the comitium. In contradiction to this is the (perhaps incorrect) remark of Dio Cassius (LXVII, 3) according to which Domitian, to his credit, ordered that vestal virgins convicted of breaking their vows, should not be buried alive, but sentenced to a less cruel death.
[138] Pulvinar. Here a superb seat resembling a divan, is meant. See Suet. A. 45, also see [note 45], Vol. II.