[513] Theodoric himself was illiterate, and is said to have used the same device as Justin (see p. 303) for signing his name; Anon. Vales. A critic suggests that the four letters were LEGI.
[514] For the events narrated henceforward in this chapter, there is generally no source but Procopius (De Bel. Goth., i, ii). Some jottings occur in Marcellinus Com. and Jordanes, but the Liber Pontificalis is indispensable as regards the local Church history.
[515] Procopius, De Bel. Goth., i, 3. His own professions as to his devotion to literature, etc.; Ibid., 6. The five last books of Cassiodorus, written after the death of Theodoric, contain letters supposed to have been dictated by Athalaric, Amalasuntha, and Theodahad, etc.
[516] Procopius, De Bel. Vand., ii, 5.
[517] Ibid., i, 9; Cassiodorus, Var. Ep., ix, 1. She was accused of plotting against the King with her Gothic guards after her husband's death.
[518] Ibid.
[519] Procopius, De Bel. Goth., i, 3, whence the narrative continues as below.
[520] They held out at Panormus, but by means of archers hoisted in boats to the mastheads of his ships, Belisarius overtopped the sea-walls, and forced a speedy surrender.
[521] Procopius, De Bel. Goth., i, 14.
[522] C. 400 Rome contained 1,797 palaces of nobles, etc., and 46,202 insulae; Notitia Occid. Including slaves, the first would account for at least 100,000 inhabitants, and the latter (large apartment houses) for something like 2,000,000. This is about the best basis for guessing at the population.