“quorum profunda et insatiabilis gula hinc maria scrutatur, hinc terras.”
[544] The explanation for this by Nonnius, op. cit., p. 75—that the Greek coasts, from being surrounded on all sides by seas, yielded ample supplies of fish, while the Romans, “whose seas were not so near,” were not as fortunate and were compelled to be more instant in pisciculture—is a statement at the best doubtful, and certainly not supported by the existence of vivaria in Sicily, lapped on every side by seas.
[545] The existence of such gigantic craft has been called in question, but is proved by an inscription from the temple of the Paphian Aphrodite in Cyprus, which commemorates a builder of an εἰκοσήρης and a τριακοντήρης (W. Dittenberger, Orientis Græci Inscriptiones Selectæ (Lipziæ, 1903), I. 64, no. 39). See also, L. Whibley, A Companion to Greek Studies (Cambridge, 1916), p. 584 f. Athen., V. 40-44. Caligula built two ships for cruising and fishing up and down the Campanian coast: their poops blazed with jewels. They were fitted up with ample baths, galleries, and saloons, while a great variety of vines and fruit trees were cultivated. Suetonius, Cal. 37. Divers have discovered at the bottom of Lake Nemi two imperial house-boats of enormous size, the timbers of which are decked with bronze reliefs of magnificent workmanship. See V. Malfatti, Le navi romane del lago di Nemi, 1905.
[546] Op. cit., p. 246.
[547] Cf. Tibullus, II. 3. 45.
“Claudit et indomitum moles mare, lentus ut intra Neglegat hibernas piscis adesse minas.”
[548] Pliny, IX. 81.
[549] Plutarch, De Sol. Anim., 23.
[550] De Re Rustica, III. 17. This abstinence on the part of Hortensius from eating his “mulli barbati” is the more to be appreciated, when we remember that, according to Sophron, the savour of the “barbati” was far pleasanter than that of any other mullet. Athen., VII. 126.
[551] Martial, Ep., IV. 30, 4.