33.42
This
year for the first time three epulones were appointed, namely C. Licinius
Lucullus, one of the tribunes of the plebs who had got the law passed under
which they were appointed, and with him P. Manlius and P. Portius Laeca.
They were allowed by law to wear the toga praetexta like the priests. But a
serious dispute broke out this year between the whole body of priests and
the City quaestors, Q. Fabius Labeo and P. Aurelius. The senate had decided
that the last repayment of the money subscribed for the Punic War should be
made to those who had contributed and money was needed for the purpose.
As the augurs and pontiffs had not made any contribution during the war, the
quaestors demanded payment from them. They appealed in vain to the
tribunes of the plebs, and were compelled to pay their quota for every year
of the war. Two pontiffs died during the year; they were succeeded by the
consul, M. Marcellus, in place of C. Sempronius Tuditanus, who had died
while acting as praetor in Spain, and L. Valerius Flaccus in place of M.
Cornelius Cethegus. The augur Q. Fabius Maximus also died while quite
young, before he could hold any magistracy; no successor was appointed
during the year.
The consular elections were conducted by M. Marcellus; the new
consuls were L. Valerius Flaccus and M. Porcius Cato. The praetors elected
were Cn. Manlius Volso, Ap. Claudius Nero P. Porcius Laeca, C. Fabricius
Luscinus, C. Atinius Labeo and P. Manlius. The curule aediles, M. Fulvius
Nobilior and C. Flaminius, sold during the year a million modii of wheat to
the people at two ases the modius. This wheat was sent by the Sicilians out
of regard to C. Flaminius and in honour of his father's memory. The Roman
Games were celebrated with great splendour and repeated on three different
days. The plebeian aediles, Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus and C. Scribonius
Curio, brought several farmers of State lands before the popular tribunal;
three of these were convicted, and out of the fines imposed they built a
temple to Faunus on the Island. The Plebeian Games lasted two days and
there was the usual banquet.
