[157] Caesar angrily shook his head. Usually the emperors had endeavored to heed the publicly-expressed wishes of the people. Only Domitian and a few others were an exception. Thus Suetonius (Dom. 13) states that Domitian, when the audience at the combats in honor of the Capitoline Jupiter, asked for the reinstatement of Palfurius Sura, who had been expelled from the senate and now crowned as orator, did not even vouchsafe an answer, but through the mouth of the herald unceremoniously ordered silence. The compliance with the demands of the audience at the circus, who required the recall of the empress, described in this story ([note 148], Vol. I.) does not contradict this trait of character, for there the emperor was bound by an express promise.
[158] Some violent measures on the emperor’s part were only too probable. Dio Cassius, LXVII, 8, gives us a striking example of such violence towards the spectators at public games. A terrible storm arose during a brilliant performance in the circus. The wind howled, the rain poured in torrents, but no one ventured to leave the place, even for the short time necessary to get a cloak. The emperor himself, on the contrary, constantly changed his upper garment. “Many” writes Dio Cassius, “took cold and died.”
[159] A fight between a little girl of thirteen and a dwarf. See [note 177], Vol. I. Also Dio Cass., LXVII, 8.
[160] A magnificent naval fight was performed. The sea-fights (naumachia) took place either in basins and ponds, specially dug for the purpose, or in the arena itself, which by means of the high state of perfection attained by the Romans in the science of hydraulics, could be flooded in a few moments.
[161] Igilium, now Giglio.
[162] Alsium, south of Caere, an old Etrurian city, afterwards a Roman colony, a favorite place of resort, where there were numerous villas (see Front. “De feriis Alsiensibus” as well as Cic. Mil. 20; Ad fam. IX, 6), now Palo. Some ancient ruins still exist.
[163] The via cassia ran between the Via Flaminia and the Via Aurelia to central Etruria.
[164] Clusium. Early mentioned as the residence of King Porsena, between lakes Trasimenus and Volsiniensis; now Chiusi.
[165] Luna. A city in northern Etruria, not far from the modern Carrara; a Roman colony.
[166] Pisae now Pisa.