31.4
Towards
the close of the year the question was brought up as to the holdings which
were to be assigned to the veteran soldiers who had served with Scipio in
Africa. The senator decreed that M. Junius, the City praetor, should at his
discretion appoint ten commissioners for the purpose of measuring and
allotting that portion of the Samnite and Apulian territory which had become
State domain. The commissioners were P. Servilius, Q. Caecilius Marcellus,
the two Servilii, Caius and Marcus -who were known as "The Twins" -the
two Hostilii Catones, Lucius and Aulus, P. Villius Tappulus, M. Fulvius
Flaccus, P. Aelius Paetus and T. Quinctius Flamininus. The elections were
conducted by the consul P. Aelius. The consuls-elect were P. Sulpicius
Galba and C. Aurelius Cotta. The new praetors were Q. Minucius Rufus, L.
Furius Purpureo, Q. Fulvius Gillo and C. Sergius Plancus. The Roman
Scenic Games were celebrated this year with unusual splendour by the curule
aediles, L. Valerius Flaccus and T. Quinctius Flamininus, and were repeated
for a second day. They also distributed to the people with strict impartiality
and to the general satisfaction a vast quantity of corn which Scipio had sent
from Africa. It was sold at four ases the modius. The Plebeian Games were
also exhibited on three separate occasions by the aediles L. Apustius Fullo
and Q. Minucius Rufus; the latter after serving his aedileship was one of the
newly-elected praetors. The Festival of Jupiter was also celebrated.