36.36
The
other consul, Publius Cornelius Scipio, had in the ballot drawn Gaul as his
province. Before leaving for the coming war with the Boii he asked the
senate to vote a sum of money for the Games which he had vowed in the
crisis of battle during his praetorship in Spain. They looked upon his request
as unprecedented and unjustifiable and passed a resolution to the effect that
as he had vowed Games on his own initiative without consulting the senate
he should meet the cost of them from the proceeds of the spoils taken from
the enemy, if he had any money reserved for the purpose, otherwise he must
bear the expense himself. He celebrated the Games for ten days. The temple
of Mater Magna Idaea was dedicated about this time. It was during the
consulship of P. C. Scipio -afterwards called Africanus -and P. Licinius that
the goddess was brought from Asia; the above-named P. Cornelius
conducted her from the harbour to the Palatine. The censors, M. Livius and
C. Claudius, had signed the contract for the building in accordance with
instructions from the senate during the consulship of M. Cornelius and P.
Sempronius. After the lapse of thirteen years M. Junius Brutus dedicated it,
and the Games which were exhibited on the occasion of its dedication were,
according to Valerius Antias, the first scenic Games ever given and were
called the Megalesia. Another dedication was that of the temple of Juventas
in the Circus Maximus, which was carried out by C. Licinius Lucullus. M.
Livius had vowed it on the day when he destroyed Hasdrubal and his army,
and when he was censor he signed the contract for its construction in the
consulship of M. Cornelius and P. Sempronius. Games were celebrated in
connection with this dedication also and everything was done with greater
solemnity in view of the fresh war which was impending with Antiochus.
