29.14
Although Africa had not been officially
placed among the provinces -the senators, I think, kept it secret to prevent
the Carthaginians from getting information beforehand -the citizens fully
expected that Africa would be the scene of hostilities this year, and that the
end of the Punic War was not far off. In this state of excitement men's minds
were filled with superstition and the ready credence given to announcement
of portents increased their number. Two suns were said to have been seen;
there were intervals of daylight during the night; a meteor was seen to shoot
from east to west; a gate at Tarracina and at Anagnia a gate and several
portions of the wall were struck by lightning; in the temple of Juno Sospita
at Lanuvium a crash followed by a dreadful roar was heard. To expiate these
portents special intercessions were offered for a whole day, and in
consequence of a shower of stones a nine days' solemnity of prayer and
sacrifice was observed. The reception of Mater Idaea was also being
anxiously discussed. M. Valerius, the member of the deputation who had
come in advance, had reported that she would be in Italy almost immediately
and a fresh messenger had brought word that she was already at Tarracina.
The attention of the senate was engrossed by a very difficult question; they
had to decide who was the best and noblest man in the State. Every one felt
that to gain this distinction would be for him a real victory, far outweighing
any official position or honourable distinction which either patricians or
plebeians could confer. Of all the great and good men in the State they
adjudged the best and noblest to be P. Scipio, the son of the Cnaeus Scipio
who had fallen in Spain; a young man not yet old enough to be quaestor.
What special merits of his induced the senate to come to this conclusion I
should have been glad to record for posterity had the writers who lived
nearest to those days handed them down. As it is I will not obtrude my
conjectures upon a matter hidden in the mists of antiquity.
P. Scipio was ordered to go to Ostia, accompanied by all the
matrons, to meet the goddess. He was to receive her as she left the vessel,
and when brought to land he was to place her in the hands of the matrons
who were to bear her to her destination. As soon as the ship appeared off the
mouth of the Tiber he put out to sea in accordance with his instructions,
received the goddess from the hands of her priestesses, and brought her to
land. Here she was received by the foremost matrons of the City, amongst
whom the name of Claudia Quinta stands out pre-eminently. According to
the traditional account her reputation had previously been doubtful, but this
sacred function surrounded her with a halo of chastity in the eyes of
posterity. The matrons, each taking their turn in bearing the sacred image,
carried the goddess into the temple of Victory on the Palatine. All the
citizens flocked out to meet them, censers in which incense was burning
were placed before the doors in the streets through which she was borne,
and from all lips arose the prayer that she would of her own free will and
favour be pleased to enter Rome. The day on which this event took place
was 12th April, and was observed as a festival; the people came in crowds to
make their offerings to the deity; a lectisternium was held and Games were
constituted which were known afterwards as the Megalesian.
