Polybius, Histories

Translation

Book 30 - Chapter 22

<w lemma="%2Aleu%2Fkios">Λεύκιος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ani%2Fkios">Ἀνίκιος</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="strathgh%2Fsas">στρατηγήσας</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29illuriou%5Cs">Ἰλλυριοὺς</w> <w lemma="katapolemh%2Fsas">καταπολεμήσας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ai%29xma%2Flwton">αἰχμάλωτον</w> <w lemma="a%29gagw%5Cn">ἀγαγὼν</w> <w lemma="%2Age%2Fnqion">Γένθιον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illuriw%3Dn">Ἰλλυριῶν</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fa">βασιλέα</w> <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="te%2Fknois">τέκνοις</w>, <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dnas">ἀγῶνας</w> <w lemma="e%29pitelw%3Dn">ἐπιτελῶν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29piniki%2Fous">ἐπινικίους</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmh%7C">Ῥώμῃ</w> <w lemma="panto%5Cs">παντὸς</w> <w lemma="ge%2Flwtos">γέλωτος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcia">ἄξια</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata">πράγματα</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fhsen">ἐποίησεν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="%2Apolu%2Fbios">Πολύβιος</w> <w lemma="i%28storei%3D">ἱστορεῖ</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="triakosth%3D%7C">τριακοστῇ</w>.

<w lemma="metapemya%2Fmenos">μεταπεμψάμενος</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fdos">Ἑλλάδος</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanesta%2Ftous">ἐπιφανεστάτους</w> <w lemma="texni%2Ftas">τεχνίτας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="skhnh%5Cn">σκηνὴν</w> <w lemma="kataskeua%2Fsas">κατασκευάσας</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fsthn">μεγίστην</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="ki%2Frkw%7C">κίρκῳ</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftous">πρώτους</w> <w lemma="ei%29sh%3Dgen">εἰσῆγεν</w> <w lemma="au%29lhta%5Cs">αὐλητὰς</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w>.

<w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="%2Aqeo%2Fdwros">Θεόδωρος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Aboiw%2Ftios">Βοιώτιος</w>, <w lemma="%2Aqeo%2Fpompos">Θεόπομπος</w>, <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fermippos">Ἕρμιππος</w>, [<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w>] <w lemma="%2Alusi%2Fmaxos">Λυσίμαχος</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%2Ftines">οἵτινες</w> <w lemma="e%29pifane%2Fstatoi">ἐπιφανέστατοι</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w>.

<w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="sth%2Fsas">στήσας</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proskh%2Fnion">προσκήνιον</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xorou%3D">χοροῦ</w> <w lemma="au%29lei%3Dn">αὐλεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29ke%2Fleusen">ἐκέλευσεν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w>.

<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="diaporeuome%2Fnwn">διαπορευομένων</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="krou%2Fseis">κρούσεις</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%28rmozou%2Fshs">ἁρμοζούσης</w> <w lemma="kinh%2Fsews">κινήσεως</w> <w lemma="prospe%2Fmyas">προσπέμψας</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="kalw%3Ds">καλῶς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="au%29lei%3Dn">αὐλεῖν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29gwni%2Fzesqai">ἀγωνίζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="e%29ke%2Fleusen">ἐκέλευσεν</w>.

<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="diaporou%2Fntwn">διαπορούντων</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Fdeice%2Fn">ὑπέδειξέν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="r%28abdou%2Fxwn">ῥαβδούχων</w> <w lemma="e%29pistre%2Fyantas">ἐπιστρέψαντας</w> <w lemma="e%29pagagei%3Dn">ἐπαγαγεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%5Cs">αὑτοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="w%28sanei%5C">ὡσανεὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w>.

<w lemma="taxu%5C">ταχὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sunnoh%2Fsantes">συννοήσαντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="au%29lhtai%5C">αὐληταὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="labo%2Fntes">λαβόντες</w> ?<w lemma=""></w>* <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fan">οἰκείαν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%28autw%3Dn">ἑαυτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29selgei%2Fais">ἀσελγείαις</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fhsan">ἐποίησαν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgxusin">σύγχυσιν</w>.

<w lemma="sunepistre%2Fyantes">συνεπιστρέψαντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsous">μέσους</w> <w lemma="xorou%5Cs">χοροὺς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkrous">ἄκρους</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29lhtai%5C">αὐληταὶ</w> <w lemma="fusw%3Dntes">φυσῶντες</w> <w lemma="a%29diano%2Fhta">ἀδιανόητα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frontes">διαφέροντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="au%29lou%5Cs">αὐλοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29ph%3Dgon">ἐπῆγον</w> <w lemma="a%29na%5C">ἀνὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flous">ἀλλήλους</w>.

<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="e%29piktupou%3Dntes">ἐπικτυποῦντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="xoroi%5C">χοροὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunepeisio%2Fntes">συνεπεισιόντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="skhnh%5Cn">σκηνὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pefe%2Fronto">ἐπεφέροντο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fois">ἐναντίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29nexw%2Froun">ἀνεχώρουν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w>.

<w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="perizwsa%2Fmeno%2Fs">περιζωσάμενός</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xoreutw%3Dn">χορευτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w> <w lemma="strafei%5Cs">στραφεὶς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dre">ἦρε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="pugmh%3Ds">πυγμῆς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifero%2Fmenon">ἐπιφερόμενον</w> <w lemma="au%29lhth%2Fn">αὐλητήν</w>, <w lemma="to%2Ft%27">τότ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="kro%2Ftos">κρότος</w> <w lemma="e%29cai%2Fsios">ἐξαίσιος</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kraugh%5C">κραυγὴ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="qewme%2Fnwn">θεωμένων</w>.

<w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="parata%2Fcews">παρατάξεως</w> <w lemma="a%29gwnizome%2Fnwn">ἀγωνιζομένων</w> <w lemma="o%29rxhstai%5C">ὀρχησταὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="ei%29sh%2Fgonto">εἰσήγοντο</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="sumfwni%2Fas">συμφωνίας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29rxh%2Fstran">ὀρχήστραν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pu%2Fktai">πύκται</w> <w lemma="te%2Fttares">τέτταρες</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fbhsan">ἀνέβησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="skhnh%5Cn">σκηνὴν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="salpigktw%3Dn">σαλπιγκτῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bukanistw%3Dn">βυκανιστῶν</w>.

<w lemma="o%28mou%3D">ὁμοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="a%29gwnizome%2Fnwn">ἀγωνιζομένων</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Flekton">ἄλεκτον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%3Dnon">συμβαῖνον</w>. <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="tragw%7Cdw%3Dn">τραγῳδῶν</w>, <w lemma="fhsi%5Cn">φησὶν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Apolu%2Fbios">Πολύβιος</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2F">ὅ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29piba%2Flwmai">ἐπιβάλωμαι</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w>, <w lemma="do%2Fcw">δόξω</w> <w lemma="tisi%5C">τισὶ</w> <w lemma="diaxleua%2Fzein">διαχλευάζειν</w>.

<head>Lucius Anicius\'s Triumph over Genthius</head>Lucius Anicius, the Roman praetor, upon conquering the Illyrians and bringing back as his prisoners Genthius, the king of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Illyria&groupId=647&placeId=1186">Illyria</a>, and his children, in celebrating games in honour of his victory, behaved in the most absurd manner, as Polybius tells us in his Thirtieth Book.

For having sent for the most celebrated scenic artists from Greece and constructed an enormous stage in the census, he first brought on all the flute-players at once.

These were Theodorus of Boeotia, Theopompus, Hermippus and Lysimachus, who were then at the height of their fame.

Stationing them with the chorus on the proscenium he ordered them to play all together. When they went through their performance with the proper rhythmic movements, he sent to them to show more competitive spirit. They were at a loss to know what he meant, when one of the lictors explained that they should turn and go for each other and make a sort of fight of it. The players soon understood, and having got an order that suited their own appetite for licence, made a mighty confusion. Making the central groups of dancers face those on the outside, the flute-players blowing loud in unintelligible discord and turning their flutes about this way and that, advanced towards each other in turn, and the dancers, clapping their hands and mounting the stage all together, attacked the adverse party and then faced about and retreated in their turn.

And when one of the dancers girt up his robes on the spur of the moment, and turning round lifted up his hands in boxing attitude against the flute-player who was advancing towards have, there was tremendous applause on cheering on the part of the spectators.

And while they were thus engaged in a pitched battle, two dancers with musicians were introduced into the orchestra and four prize-fighters mounted the stage accompanied by buglers and clarion-players

and with all these men struggling together the scene was indescribable. As for the tragic actors Polybius says, "If I tried to describe them some people would think I was making fun of my readers."

Walbank Commentary

Overview

30.22.1 - 30.22.12

Games held by L. Anicius to celebrate his victory over Genthius This extract from Athenaeus, xiv. 615, cannot be placed with certainty, since we cannot tell in what context P. introduced his account of Anicius' games. His triumph was on the Quirinalia (17 February) of A.U.C. 587 = 166, and this probably fell on Julian 19 November 167 (or 11 or 12 December if 167 was, like 166, an intercalary year); see 19. 14 n. But there is no reason to think that the games were held at the same timeor even the same year. See § 1 n. For discussion of possible contextsincluding the res Graeciae of 168/7, as a foil to Aemilius Paullussee p. 32. How far Athenaeus has retained P.'s wording is uncertain.

Specifics

30.22.1 - 30.22.1

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Λεύκιος . . . Ἀνίκιος</w>:</emph> L. Anicius L.f. L.n. Gallus was praetor in 168, when he was sent to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Apollonia&groupId=1066&placeId=1873">Apollonia</a> and defeated Genthius in 30 days (see note following xxix. 13. 2 n.). In 167, as propraetor, he reduced Epirus and announced the new arrangements for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Illyria&groupId=647&placeId=1186">Illyria</a> (10. 1–2 n.). On his triumph see, besides Livy, loc. cit., Vell. i. 9. 5; App. Ill. 9. He was consul in 160 (thereby bestowing his name upon a famous vintage; Cic. Brut. 287–8) and in 154 one of the Ten sent out to Prusias (cf. xxxiii. 7. 3). See Klebs, RE, 'Anicius (15)', cols. 2197–8. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Ῥωμαίων στρατηγήσας</w>?:</emph> 'who had been praetor'; for this meaning of <w lang="el-GR">στρατηγεῖν</w> see Mason, 86. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Γένθιον . . . σὺν τοῖς τέκνοις</w>:</emph> cf. xxviii. 8. 1 n.; his sons were called <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Scerdilaidas&groupId=953&placeId=1692">Scerdilaidas</a> and Pleuratus (Livy, xliv. 32. 3). <milestone unit="page" n="445">[445]</milestone> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἀγῶνας . . . ἐπινικίους</w>:</emph> despite the later use of <w lang="el-GR">ἐπινίκιος</w> to render triumphalis (cf. Dion. Hal. ii. 34. 3; Dio, liv. 24. 8, where <w lang="el-GR">ἐπινίκιοι τιμαί</w> are 'triumphal honours'; cf. Plut. Aem. 31. 1) the meaning here seems to be 'games to celebrate his victory', and they are unlikely to have been held immediately after his triumph. Mommsen's theory (Röm. Forsch. ii. 45 f.; cf. Habel, RE, Suppl.-B. v, 'Ludi publici', col. 610; Ehlers, RE, 'triumphus', col. 500) that ludi originally formed an integral part of the triumph, has been subjected to valid criticism by Versnel, 101–15; and Livy, xlv. 43, describing Anicius' triumph, says nothing of games. On the other hand private ludi scaenici had been presented to celebrate victories and as votive offerings by P. Scipio Africanus in 205 (Livy, xxviii. 38. 14, 45. 12) and 200 (Livy, xxxi. 49. 4), by M. Fulvius Nobilior in 186 (Livy, xxxix. 22. 1–2), and by L. Cornelius Scipio in 186 (Livy, xxxix. 22. 9–10). Anicius' games were probably the result of a votum, and quite distinct from his triumph.

30.22.2 - 30.22.2

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τεχνίτας</w>:</emph> for professional actors and artistes organized in guilds for public festivals in the Hellenistic world see iv. 20. 9 n. on <emph rend="italics">D</emph> <w lang="el-GR">ιονυσιακοὶ αυληταί</w>; various kinds of artistes are known, and are mentioned here (§ 11). <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">σκηνὴν . . . μεγίστην ἐν τῷ κίρκῳ</w>:</emph> this will have been a temporary wooden structure erected in the Circus Maximus. Such structures are also known from Hellenistic Greece; cf. BCH, 1899, 564 f. l. 28 (258) where the Delphic accounts mention <w lang="el-GR">τοῦ προσκανίου ταν παξιν ἐν τ[ῶι] Πυθικῶι σταδίωι Νίκων ΓΣ</w>.

30.22.3 - 30.22.3

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Θεόδωρος κτλ</w>.:</emph> none of these virtuosi is otherwise known.

30.22.4 - 30.22.4

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐπὶ τὸ προσκήνιον</w>:</emph> comparison of fg. 212 with xxix. 19. 2 shows that P. uses <w lang="el-GR">προσκήνιον</w> and <w lang="el-GR">σκηνή</w> interchangeably to mean a stage. Hence what he (or Athenaeus) here calls the <w lang="el-GR">προσκήνιον</w> will be the <w lang="el-GR">σκηνή</w> of §§ 9 and 11. <w lang="el-GR">σκηνὴ . . . μεγίστη</w> (§ 2) perhaps indicates the whole construction (cf. Livy, xli. 27. 5, 'censores . . . locauerunt . . . scaenam aedilibus praetoribusque praebendam'); the use of <w lang="el-GR">σκηνή</w> in two slightly different senses would not be alien to P.'s style and can be paralleled from Vitruv. v. 6. 1, where scena is first the whole theatre and then the stage. See Fensterbusch, RE, 'Proskenion', cols. 1287–96; Wunderer, iii. 54. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">μετὰ τοῦ χοροῦ αὐλεῖ?ν . . . ἅμα πάντας</w>:</emph> 'to accompany the chorus in unison with their piping'; the chorus were still in the orchestra below (cf. §9), hence <w lang="el-GR">μετὰ τοῦ χοροῦ</w> must be taken with <w lang="el-GR">αὐλεῖν</w> (not with <w lang="el-GR">στήσας</w>, as Paton).

30.22.5 - 30.22.5

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὰς κρούσεις</w>:</emph> the music. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">μετὰ τῆς . . . κινήσεως</w>:</emph> it is not clear whether these are the movements of the musicians or of the dancers.

30.22.7 - 30.22.7

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">λαβόντες . . . οἰκείαν ταῖς ἑαυτῶν ἀσελγείαις</w>:</emph> a noun is needed after <w lang="el-GR">λαβόντες; ἑξουσίαν, ἔννοιαν, κίνησιν, διάθεσιν, πρόφασιν</w>, and <milestone unit="page" n="446">[446]</milestone> <w lang="el-GR">ὁρμήν</w> have all been suggested and F. J. Piejko, in a private communication, proposes <w lang="el-GR">ἀφορμήν</w> (cf. xxxiii. 10. 14).

30.22.8 - 30.22.8

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">διαφέροντες τοὺς αὐλούς</w>:</emph> 'sounding their pipes discordantly' (rather than Paton, 'turning their flutes [sic] about this way and that'): the phrase elaborates <w lang="el-GR">φυσῶντες ἀδιανόητα</w> 'blowing meaningless noises'.

30.22.9 - 30.22.9

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">συνεπεισιόντες τὴν σκηνὴν</w>:</emph> i.e. from the orchestra (§ 11).

30.22.11 - 30.22.11

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">μετὰ σαλπιγκτῶν καὶ βυκανιστῶν</w>:</emph> cf. xiv. 3. 6; these were used normally in the army and were probably borrowed for this unusual occasion.

30.22.12 - 30.22.12

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">περὶ . . . τῶν τραγῳδῶν</w>:</emph> by this time tragedies and comedies had a regular place in ludi scaenici; on Roman tragedy see W. Beare, The Roman Stage <emph rend="superscript">2</emph> (London, 1964), 70 ff. But what happened on this occasion is unknown. R. Reitzenstein, Gött. Nachr. Phil.-hist. Kl. 1918, 249, suggests that the audience were expecting something like the dances described in Livy, vii. 2. 4, and that Anicius tried to provide this; he thinks there is no reference to tragedy.

Polybius, Histories

Bibliography

Archaeology

Places

Walbank Commentary

Commentary