26.21
Towards the end of this summer M.
Marcellus left Sicily for Rome. On his arrival in the City he was granted an
audience of the senate in the Temple of Bellona. After giving a report of his
campaign and gently protesting on his own behalf and on that of his soldiers
against not being allowed to bring them home, though he had completely
pacified the province, he requested to be allowed to enter the City in
triumph. After a lengthy debate his request was refused. On the one hand, it
was argued, it was most inconsistent to refuse him a triumph now that he
was on the spot after the way in which the news of his successes in Sicily
had been received, and public thanksgivings and special rites ordered while
he was still in his province. Against this it was alleged that as the senate had
ordered him to hand over his army to his successor, it was a proof that a
state of war still existed in the province, and he could not enjoy a triumph
since he had not brought the war to a close, nor was his army present to
testify as to whether he deserved a triumph or not. They decided upon a
middle course, he was to be allowed an ovation. The tribunes of the plebs
were authorised by the senate to propose as an ordinance to the people "that
for the day on which he entered the City in ovation M. Marcellus should
retain his command."
The day previous to this he celebrated his triumph on the Alban
Mount. From there he marched into the City in ovation. An enormous
quantity of spoil was carried before him together with a model of Syracuse
at the time of its capture. Catapults and ballistae and all the engines of war
taken from the city were exhibited in the procession, as were also the works
of art which had been accumulated in royal profusion during the long years
of peace. These included a number of articles in silver and bronze, pieces of
furniture, costly garments and many famous statues with which Syracuse,
like all the principal cities of Greece, had been adorned. To signalise his
victories over the Carthaginians eight elephants were led in the procession.
Not the least conspicuous feature of the spectacle was the sight of Sosis the
Syracusan and Moericus the Spaniard who marched in front wearing golden
crowns. The former had guided the nocturnal entry into Syracuse, the latter
had been the agent in the surrender of Nasos and its garrison. Each of these
men received the full Roman citizenship and 500 jugera of land. Sosis was to
take his allotment in that part of the Syracusan territory which had belonged
to the king or to those who had taken up arms against Rome, and he was
allowed to choose any house in Syracuse which had been the property of
those who had been put to death under the laws of war. A further order was
made that Moericus and the Spaniards should have assigned to them a city
and lands in Sicily out of the possessions of those who had revolted from
Rome. M. Cornelius was commissioned to select the city and territory for
them, where he thought best, and 400 jugera in the same district were also
decreed as a gift to Belligenes through whose instrumentality Moericus had
been induced to change sides. After Marcellus' departure from Sicily a
Carthaginian fleet landed a force of 8000 infantry and 3000 Numidian horse.
The cities of Murgentia and Ergetium revolted to them, and their example
was followed by Hybla and Macella and some other less important places.
Muttines and his Numidians were also roaming all through the island and
laying waste the fields of Rome's allies with fire. To add to these troubles the
Roman army bitterly resented not being withdrawn from the province with
their commander and also not being allowed to winter in the towns.
Consequently they were very remiss in their military duties; in fact it was
only the absence of a leader that prevented them from breaking out into open
mutiny. In spite of these difficulties the praetor M. Cornelius succeeded by
remonstrances and reassurances in calming the temper of his men, and then
reduced all the revolted cities to submission. In pursuance of the senate's
orders he selected Murgentia, one of those cities, for the settlement of
Moericus and his Spaniards.