45.16
When
the new consuls, Q. Aelius and M. Junius, brought up in the senate the
allocations of the provinces, the House decided that Spain should again form
two provinces -during the Macedonian war it had only formed one -and
that L. Paulus and L. Anicius should continue to hold Macedonia and Illyria
until, in concert with the commissioners, they had settled the confusion
caused by the war and given the disturbed countries a constitution other than
the monarchical. Pisae and Gaul were allotted to the consuls, each to be held
with two legions and 400 cavalry. The result of the balloting among the
praetors was that the civic jurisdiction fell to Q. Cassius, the alien to M.
Juventius Thalna, Sicily to Ti. Claudius Nero, Hither Spain to Cneius
Fulvius, and Further Spain to C. Licinius Nerva. Sardinia had fallen to A.
Manlius Torquatus, but he was unable to go to his province as he was
detained by the enquiry into criminal cases which the senate had ordered.
The senate was next consulted as to various portents which had been
announced. The temple of the Penates in Velia had been struck by lightning,
as had also the two gates and a portion of the wall at Minervium. At Anagnia
there had been a shower of earth, and at Lanuvium a blazing torch had been
seen in the heavens. M. Valerius, who was farming some of the State land at
Calatia, reported that blood had trickled from his hearth for three days and
two nights. Mainly on account of this latter portent the keepers were ordered
to consult the Sacred Books, and they announced special intercessions for
one day and a sacrifice of fifty goats in the Forum. In expiation of the other
portents there were special intercessions at all the shrines for a second day,
sacrifices of full-grown victims, and the lustration of the City. Further, with
the purpose of doing honour to the immortal gods, the senate made the
following decree: "Whereas our enemies have been overcome, and
Macedonia and Illyria have passed under the power of the people of Rome,
gifts should be presented at all the shrines equal to those which had been
offered after the defeat of Antiochus in the consulship of Appius Claudius
and M. Sempronius." Q. Cassius and M. Juventius were to see that these
offerings were made.
