| Septimius Severus | The Life of Septimius Severus |
| 23 1 Sunt per plurimas civitates opera eius insignia. magnum vero illud in vita eius, quod Romae omnes aedes publicas, quae vitio temporum labebantur, instauravit nusquam prope suo nomine adscripto, servatis tamen ubique titulis conditorum. 2 Moriens septem annorum canonem, ita ut cotidiana septuaginta quinque milia modium expendi possent, reliquit; olei vero tantum, ut per quinquennium non solum urbis usibus, sed et totius Italiae, quae oleo eget, sufficeret. 3 Ultima verba eius dicuntur haec fuisse: "Turbatam rem publicam ubique accepi, pacatam etiam Britannis relinquo, senex et pedibus aeger firmum imperium Antoninis meis relinquens, si boni erunt, imbecillum, si mali". 4 Iussit deinde signum tribuno dari "laboremus," quia Pertinax, quando in imperium adscitus est, signum dederat "militemus". 5 Fortunam deinde regiam, quae comitari principes et in cubiculis poni solebat, geminare statuerat, ut sacratissimum simulacrum utrique relinqueret filiorum; 6 sed cum videret se perurgueri sub hora mortis, iussisse fertur ut alternis diebus apud filios imperatores in cubiculis Fortuna poneretur. 7 Quod Bassianus prius contempsit quam faceret parricidium. | 23 1 In many communities there are public buildings erected by him which are famous, but particularly noteworthy among the achievements of his life was the restoration of all the public sanctuaries in Rome, which were then falling to ruin through the passage of time. And seldom did he inscribe his own name on these restorations or fail to preserve the names of those who built them. 2 At his death he left a surplus of grain to the amount of seven years' tribute, or enough to distribute seventy-five thousand pecks a day, and so much oil, indeed, that for five years there was plenty for the uses, not only of the city, but also for as much as of Italy as was in need of it. 3 His last words, it is said, were these: "The state, when I received it, was harassed on every side; I leave it at peace, even in Britain; old now and with crippled feet, I bequeath to my two Antonini an empire which is strong, if they prove good, feeble, if they prove bad." 4 After this, he issued orders to give the tribune the watchword "Let us toil," because Pertinax, when he assumed the imperial power, had given the word "Let us be soldiers". 5 He then ordered a duplicate made of the royal statue of Fortune which was customarily carried about with the emperors and placed in their bedrooms, in order that he might leave this most holy statue to each of his sons; 6 but later, when he realized that the hour of death was upon him, he gave instructions, they say, that the original should be placed in the bed-chambers of each of his sons, the co-emperors, on alternate days. 7 As for this direction, Bassianus ignored it and then murdered his brother. |
| 24 1 Corpus eius a Britannia Romam usque cum magna provincialium reverentia susceptum est; 2 quamvis aliqui urnulam auream tantum fuisse dicant Severi reliquias continentem eandemque Antoninorum sepulchro inlatam, cum Septimius illic ubi vita functus est esset incensus. 3 Cum Septizonium faceret, nihil aliud cogitavit, quam ut ex Africa venientibus suum opus occurreret. 4 Nisi absente eo per praefectum urbis medium simulacrum eius esset locatum, aditum Palatinis aedibus, id est regium atrium, ab ea parte facere voluisse perhibetur. 5 Quod etiam post Alexander cum vellet facere, ab haruspicibus dicitur esse prohibitus, cum hoc sciscitans non litasset. | 24 1 His body was borne from Britain to Rome, and was everywhere received by the provincials with profound reverence. 2 Some men say, however, that only a golden urn containing Severus' ashes was so conveyed, and that this was laid in the tomb of the Antonines, while Septimius himself was cremated where he died. 3 When he built the Septizonium he had no other thought than that his building should strike the eyes of those who came to Rome from Africa. 4 It is said that he wished to make an entrance on this side of the Palatine mansion - the royal dwelling, that is - and he would have done so had not the prefect of the city planted his statue in the centre of it while he was away. 5 Afterwards Alexander wished to carry out this plan, but he, it is said, was prevented by the soothsayers, for on making inquiry he obtained unfavourable omens. |
| Translation David Magie, 1924. | |
The first lines of Caracalla's biography in the Historia Augusta,
in the oldest manuscript, Palatinus Latinus 899, 69r. First half of the 9th century.
Image: University of Heidelberg.
| Incipit Antoninus Caracallus | Antoninus Caracalla begins | The Life of Antoninus Caracalla |
| 1 1 Ex duobus liberis, quos Septimius Severus reliquit Getam et Bassianum, quorum unum <Antoninum> exercitus alterum pater di<le>xit, Geta hostis est iudicatus, Bassianus autem obtinuit imperium. 2 De cuius maioribus frustra putamus iterandum, cum omnia in Severi vita satis dicta sint. 3 Huius igitur pueritia blanda, ingeniosa, parentibus adfabilis, amicis parentum iucunda, populo accepta, grata senatui, ipsi etiam ad amorem conciliandum salutaris fuit. 4 Non ille in litteris tardus, non in benevolentiis segnis, non tenax in largitate, non lentus in clementia, sed sub parentibus, visus. 5 Denique, si quando feris obiectos damnatos vidit, flevit aut oculos avertit, quod populo plus quam amabile fuit. 6 Septennis puer, cum conlusorem suum puerum ob Iudaicam religionem gravius verberatum audisset, neque patrem suum neque patrem pueri velut auctores verberum diu respexit. 7 Antiochensibus et Byzantiis interventu suo iura vetusta restituit, quibus iratus fuit Severus, quod Nigrum iuverant. Plautiani odium crudelitatis causa concepit. 8 Quod a parentibus gratia Sigillariorum acceperat, id vel clientibus vel magistris sponte donavit. Sed haec puer. | 1 1 Of the two children whom Septimius Severus left behind - one of whom the army loved while their father loved the other - Geta was condemned as an enemy while Bassianus obtained the empire. 2 Concerning his ancestors, I consider it useless to go through the information again as everything was well-enough said in the biography of Severus. 3 In any event during his childhood he was gentle, gifted, pleasing to his parents, friendly to his parents' friends, well-liked by the people, gratious to the senate and he even helped himself by generating this affection. 4 He was neither slow in letters nor lazy in goodwill, neither stingy in charity nor slow to pity - but he seemed like this while under the control of his parents. 5 Indeed, whenever he saw the condemned being thrown to the beasts, he cried and turned his eyes. This behavior was more than pleasing to the people. 6 When, as a seven-year-old, he heard a playmate was seriously beaten on account of the boy's Jewish religion, for a long time he would not look upon either his own father or the father of the boy as if they personally had struck the blows. 7 By his own intervention he restored the former priviliges to Antioch and Byxantium, cities with which Severus was angry because they aided Niger. He developed a dislike of Plautianus because of the man's cruelty. 8 What he received from his parents on the Sigillaria he gave of his own free will to his clients or his teachers. But he did these things when a boy. | 1 1 The two sons left by Septimius Severus, Geta and Bassianus, both received the surname Antoninus,[1] one from the army, the other from his father, but Geta was declared a public enemy, while Bassianus got the empire. 2 The account of this emperor's ancestors I deem it needless to repeat, for all this has been fully told in the Life of Severus. 3 He himself in his boyhood was winsome and clever, respectful to his parents and courteous to his parents' friends, beloved by the people, popular with the senate, and well able to further his own interests in winning affection. 4 Never did he seem backward in letters or slow in deeds of kindness, never niggardly in largess or tardy in forgiving - at least while under his parents. 5 For example, if ever he saw condemned criminals pitted against wild beasts, he wept or turned away his eyes, and this was more than pleasing to the people. 6 Once, when a child of seven, hearing that a certain playmate of his had been severely scourged for adopting the religion of the Jews, he long refused to look at either the boy's father or his own, because he regarded them as responsible for the scourging. 7 It was at his plea, moreover, that their ancient rights were restored to the citizens of Antioch and Byzantium, with whom Severus had become angry because they had given aid to Niger. He conceived a hatred for Plautianus because of his cruelty. 8 And all the gifts he received from his father on the occasion of the Sigillaria he presented of his own accord to his dependents or to his teachers. All this, however, was in his boyhood. |
| 2 1 Egressus vero pueritiam seu patris monitis seu calliditate ingenii sive quod se Alexandro Magno Macedoni aequandum putabat, restrictior, gravior, vultu etiam truculentior factus est, prorsus ut eum quem puerum scierant multi esse non crederent. 2 Alexandrum Magnum eiusque gesta in ore semper habuit. Tiberium et Sullam in conventu plerumque laudavit. 3 Patre superbior fuit; fratrem magna eius humilitate despexit. 4 Post patris mortem in Castra Praetoria pergens apud milites conquestus est circumveniri se fratris insidiis, atque ita fratrem in Palatio fecit occidi. Eius corpus statim cremari praecepit. 5 Dixit praeterea in Castris fratrem sibi venenum parasse, matri eum inreverentem fuisse; egitque publice iis gratias qui eum occiderunt. 6 Addidit denique his quasi fidelioribus erga se stipendium. 7 Pars militum apud Albam Getam occisum aegerrime accepit, dicentibus cunctis duobus se fidem promisisse liberis Severi, duobus servare debere. 8 Clausisque portis diu imperator non admissus nisi delenitis animis, non solum querellis de Geta et criminationibus editis sed inormitate stipendii militibus, ut solet, placatis, atque inde Romam rediit. 9 Tunc sub veste senatoria loricam habens cum armatis militibus Curiam ingressus est. Hos in medio inter subsellia duplici ordine conlocavit et sic verba fecit. 10 Questus est de fratris insidiis involute et incondite ad illius accusationem, sui vero excusationem. 11 Quod quidem nec senatus libenter accepit, cum ille dixisset fratri se omnia permisisse, fratrem ab insidiis liberasse, et illum tamen sibi gravissimas insidias fecisse nec vicem amori reddidisse fraterno. | 2 1 When he emerged from childhood, either through his father's warnings or his own craftiness or because he thought he should rival Alexander the Great of Macedon, he became more stern, more serious, even more grim in appearance, to the point that many did not believe he was the boy they once knew. 2 He always had Alexander the Great and his deeds on his lips. He often praised Tiberius and Sulla in public. 3 He was more proud than his father. He despised his brother because of Geta's great humility. 4 After his father's death he rushed to the praetorian camp and complained he was being encircled by his brother's plotting and so he had his brother killed in the palace. He ordered his body cremated right away. 5 Furthermore, he said in the camp that his brother had prepared poison for him and that he was rude to their mother. And Caracallus publicly thanked those who killed him. 6 Indeed he gave them a payment for being so loyal to him. 7 A portion of the troops stationed at Alba took the killing of Geta rather badly, with the rest saying they had sworn loyalty to the two sons of Severus and that it was two they ought to serve. 8 For a long time the gates to the camp were shut and the emperor was not admitted until the soldiers' mood was softened not only by complaints and accusations made against Geta but by the size of the payment to the troops, who became placated, as is their wont. And finally Caracallus returned to Rome. 9 Wearing a breastplate underneath his senatorial garment, Caracallus entered the curia with armed soldiers. He placed them among the seats in a double line and then began speaking. 10 He complained of his brother's plotting in an involved and confused manner, a speech acting both as a prosecution of Geta and a defense of himself. 11 This the senate did not willingy accept because Caracallus said he had allowed everything to his brother, that he had saved his brother from conspiracies, and yet his brother organized an extremely dangerous conspiracy of his own and did not return the brotherly love. | 2 1 For when he passed beyond the age of a boy, either by his father's advice or through a natural cunning, or because he thought that he must imitate Alexander of Macedonia, he became more reserved and stern and even somewhat savage in expression, and indeed so much so that many were unable to believe that he was the same person whom they had known as a boy. 2 Alexander the Great and his achievements were ever on his lips, and often in a public gathering he would praise Tiberius and Sulla. 3 He was more arrogant than his father; and his brother, because he was very modest, he thoroughly despised. 4 After his father's death he went to the Praetorian Camp and complained there to the soldiers that his brother was forming a conspiracy against him. And so he had his brother slain in the Palace, giving orders to burn his body at once. 5 He also said in the Camp that his brother had made preparations to poison him and had shown disrespect to their mother. To those who had killed his brother he rendered thanks publicly, 6 and indeed he even gave them a bonus for being so loyal to him. 7 Nevertheless, some of the soldiers at Alba received the news of Geta's death with anger, and all declared they had sworn allegiance to both the sons of Severus and ought to maintain it to both. 8 They then closed the gates of the camp, and the Emperor was not admitted for a long time, and then not until he had quieted their anger, not only by bitter words about Geta and by bringing charges against him, but also by enormous sums of money, by means of which, as usual, the soldiers were placated. 9 After this he returned to Rome and then attended a meeting of the senate, wearing a cuirass under his senator's robe and accompanied by an armed guard. He stationed this in a double line in the midst of the benches and so made a speech, 10 in which, with a view to accusing his brother and excusing himself, he complained in a confused and incoherent manner about his brother's treachery. 11 The senate received his speech with little favour, when he said that although he had granted his brother every indulgence and had in fact saved him from a conspiracy, yet Geta had formed a most dangerous plot against him and had made no return for his brotherly affection. |
| 3 1 Post hoc relegatis deportatisque reditum in patriam restituit. Inde ad praetorianos processit et in Castris mansit. 2 Altera die Capitolium petiit. Eos quos occidere parabat adfabiliter est adlocutus innitensque Papiniano et Ciloni ad Palatium rediit. 3 Cum flentem matrem Getae vidisset aliasque mulieres post necem fratris, mulieres occidere conatus est, sed ob hoc retentus, ne augeretur fratris occisi crudelitas. 4 Laetum ad mortem coegit misso a se veneno; ipse enim inter suasores Getae mortis primus fuerat, qui et primus interemptus est. 5 Ipse mortem eius saepissime flevit. Multos, qui caedis eius conscii fuerant, interemit, item eum qui imaginem eius honoravit. 6 Post hoc fratrem patruelem Afrum, cui pridie partes de cena miserat, iussit occidi. 7 Qui cum se praecipitasset percussorum timore et ad uxorem crure fracto erepisset, tamen per ludibrium a percussoribus deprehensus est et occisus. 8 Occidit etiam Pompeianum, Marci nepotem, ex filia natum et ex Pompeiano, cui nupta fuerat Lucilla post mortem Veri imperatoris, quem et consulem bis fecerat et omnibus bellis praeposuerat, quae gravissima tunc fuerunt, et ita quidem ut videretur a latronibus interemptus. | 3 1 After this Caracallus allowed a return home for those exiled and deported. Then he went to the praetorians and remained in camp. 2 On the next day he went to the Capitolium and he addressed in a friendly manner those whom he was preparing to kill, and with his arms around Papinian and Cilo, he returned to the palace. 3 When, after his brother's killing, he saw the weeping mother of Geta and other women, he tried to kill the women but he was restrained for this reason, namely that the cruelty of killing his brother should not be enhanced. 4 He compelled Laetus to death by poison sent by Caracallus himself. For Laetus had been the first among those advising Geta's death and was also the first killed. 5 Caracallus weeped quite often over Geta's death. He killed many who had been aware of his murder and even those who honored his memory. 6 After this he ordered Afer, a cousin on his father's side, to be killed, to whom the day before he had sent portions of his dinner. 7 Fearing the executioners, Afer made a dangerous leap and escaped to his wife with a broken leg. Nevertheless he was caught by executioners for sport and killed. 8 Caracallus also killed Pompeianus, the grandson of Marcus from his daughter and Pompeianus, to whom Lucilla had been married after the death of the emperor Verus and whom Marcus had both made consul twice and put in command during all the wars which were then very serious. And Pompeianus was even murdered in such a way that it would seem he had been killed by robbers. | 3 1 After this speech he granted those who had been exiled or sent into banishment the right of returning to their fatherland. From the senate he betook himself to the praetorians and spent the night in the Camp. 2 The following day he proceeded to the Capitolium; here he spoke cordially to those whom he was planning to put to death and then went back to the Palace leaning on the arm of Papinian and of Cilo. 3 Here he saw Geta's mother and some other women weeping for his brother's death, and he thereupon resolved to kill them; but he was deterred by thinking how this would merely add to the cruelty of having slain his brother. 4 Laetus, however, he forced to commit suicide, sending him the poison himself; he had been the first to counsel the death of Geta and was himself the first to be killed. 5 Afterwards, however, the Emperor frequently bewailed his death. Many others, too, who had been privy to Geta's murder were put to death, and likewise a man who paid honours to his portrait. 6 After this he gave orders that his cousin Afer should be killed, although on the previous day he had sent him a portion of food from his own table. 7 Afer in fear of the assassins threw himself from a window and crawled away to his wife with a broken leg, but he was none the less seized by the murderers, who ridiculed him and put him to death. 8 Pompeianus too was killed, the grandson of the Emperor Marcus, - he was the son of his daughter and that Pompeianus who was married to Lucilla after the death of the Emperor Verus and made consul twice by Marcus and placed in command of all the most important wars of the time - and he was killed in such a way as to seem to have been murdered by robbers. |
| 4 1 Dein in conspectu eius Papinianus securi percussus a militibus et occisus est. Quo facto percussori dixit, "Gladio te exsequi oportuit meum iussum." 2 Occisus est etiam eius iussu Patruinus ante templum Divi Pii, tractaque sunt eorum per plateam cadavera sine aliqua humanitatis reverentia. Filium etiam Papiniani, qui ante triduum quaestor opulentum munus ediderat, interemit. 3 Hisdem diebus occisi sunt innumeri, qui fratris eius partibus faverant. 4 Occisi etiam liberti, qui Getae administraverant. Caedes deinde in omnibus locis. Et in balneis facta caedes, occisique nonnulli etiam cenantes, inter quos etiam Sammonicus Serenus, cuius libri plurimi ad doctrinam exstant. 5 In summum discrimen etiam Cilo iterum praefectus et consul venit ob hoc quod concordiam inter fratres suaserat. 6 Et cum idem Cilo sublata veste senatoria nudis pedibus ab urbanicianis raptus esset, Antoninus seditionem compressit. 7 Multas praeterea postea caedes in urbe fecit, passim raptis a militibus nonnullis hominibus et occisis, quasi seditionem vindicans. 8 Helvium Pertinacem, suffectum consulem, ob hoc solum quod filius esset imperatoris occidit. 9 Neque cessavit umquam sub diversis occasionibus eos interficere, qui fratris amici fuissent. 10 Saepe in senatum saepe in populum superbe invectus est aut edictis propositis aut orationibus editis, Sullam se etiam ostendens futurum. | 4 1 Then before Caracallus' eyes, Papinian was ezecuted by soldiers and killed. When this was done Caracallus said to the executioner, "Instead of giving him the 'axe', you should have carried out my order by giving him the sword." 2 A1so by his order Patruinus was killed in front of the temple of the deified Pius, and their bodies were dragged through the street without any regard for humanity. He killed the son of Papinian who three days earlier had given splendid games as quaestor. 3 On these days numerous people were killed who supported the party of his brother. 4 Moreover, the freedmen who served Geta were killed. The slaughter took place everywhere. Even in the baths were murders carried out, and some were killed while they dined. Among these was Sammonicus Serenus, whose many hooks on learning survive. 5 Even Chilo, once again prefect and consul, came into the greatest danger because he counseled harmony between the brothers. 6 And when Chilo was taken by soldiers garrisoned in the city, his naked feet showing as his senatorial toga was dragged up, Antoninus suppressed the uprising. 7 Furthermore, Caracallus later instigated a massive slaughter in the city, with some men being taken at random by the soldiers and killed, as though he were avenging an uprising. 8 He killed Helvius Pertinax, the suffect consul, only because he was the son of an emperor. 9 And Caracallus never stopped on various occasions from killing those who had been his brother's friends. 10 Through published edicts or public speeches he often declared war, at times against the senate, at times against the people, even indicating that he would be another Sulla. | 4 1 Next, in the Emperor's own presence, Papinian was struck with an axe by some soldiers and so slain. Whereupon the Emperor said to the slayer, "You should have used a sword in carrying out my command." 2 Patruinus, too, was slain by his order, and that in front of the Temple of the Deified Pius, and his body as well as Papinian's were dragged about through the streets without any regard for decency. Also Papinian's son was killed, who was a quaestor and only three days before had given a lavish spectacle. 3 During this same time there were slain men without number, all of whom had favoured the cause of Geta, 4 and even the freedmen were slain who had managed Geta's affairs. Then there was a slaughtering in all manner of places. Even in the public baths there was slaughter, and some too were killed while dining, among them Sammonicus Serenus, many of whose books dealing with learned subjects are still in circulation. 5 Cilo, moreover, twice prefect and consul, incurred the utmost danger merely because he had counselled harmony between the brothers. 6 For not until after the city-soldiers had seized Cilo, tearing off his senator's robe and pulling off his boots, did Antoninus check their violence. 7 After this he committed many further murders in the city, causing many persons far and wide to be seized by soldiers and killed, as though he were punishing a rebellion. 8 He put to death Helvius Pertinax, substitute consul, for no other reason than because he was the son of an emperor, 9 and he would never hesitate, whenever an opportunity presented itself, to put to death those who had been his brother's friends. 10 He often delivered insolent invectives against the senate and against the people, issuing proclamations and publishing harangues, and he even declared that he would be a second Sulla. |
| 5 1 His gestis Galliam petiit atque ut primum in eam venit Narbonensem proconsulem occidit. 2 Cunctis deinde turbatis qui in Gallia res gerebant odium tyrannicum meruit, quamvis se aliquando fingeret et benignum, cum esset natura truculentus. 3 Et cum multa contra homines et contra iura civitatum fecisset, morbo implicitus graviter laboravit. circa eos qui eum curabant crudelissimus fuit. 4 Dein ad orientem profectionem parans omisso itinere in Dacia resedit. Circa Raetiam non paucos barbaros interemit militesque suos quasi Sullae milites et cohortatus est et donavit. 5 Deorum sane se nominibus appellari vetuit, quod Commodus fecerat, cum multi eum, quod leonem aliasque feras occidisset, Herculem dicerent. 6 Et cum Germanos subegisset, Germanum se appellavit vel ioco vel serio, ut erat stultus et demens, adserens, si Lucanos vicisset, Lucanicum se appellandum. 7 Damnati sunt eo tempore qui urinam in eo loco fecerunt in quo statuae aut imagines erant principis, et qui coronas imaginibus eius detraxerunt, ut alias ponerent, damnatis et qui remedia quartanis tertianisque collo adnexas gestarent. 8 Per Thracias cum praefecto praetorii iter fecit. Inde cum in Asiam traiceret, naufragii periculum adiit antemna fracta, ita ut in scapham cum protectoribus descenderet. Unde in triremem a praefecto classis receptus evasit. 9 Excepit apros frequenter, contra leonem etiam stetit. Quando missis ad amicos litteris gloriatus est seque ad Herculis virtutem accessisse iactavit. | 5 1 With those deeds completed, Caracallus went to Gaul, and as soon as he arrived, he killed the proconsul of Narbonensis, 2 Then the rest of those who handled imperial business in Gaul were thrown into turmoil. Caracallus deserved the hatred of a tyrant. Although he sometimes pretended to be kind, while he was cruel by nature. 3 And when he committed many acts against mankind and against the laws of cities, he was struck by an illness and suffered greatly. He was especially cruel to those who cured him. 4 Preparing for a campaign in the East, Caracallus' travel plans were put aside and he remained in Dacia. Around Raetia he killed not a few barbarians and he both incited his troops and gave them a donative as though they were the troops of Sulla. 5 Rightly he forbade himself being called by the names of the gods, in contrast to Commodus, whom they called Hercules because he killed a lion and other beasts. 6 And when he subdued the Germans. he called himself Germanicus, adding either in jest or in seriousness (as he was an idiot and a madman) if he had conquered the Lucanians he would call himself Lucanicus. 7 At that time those who urinated where there were statues or images of the emperor were condemned, as well as those who removed the garlands from his images in order to put up different ones and those who wore amulets on the neck as a remedy for quartan or tertian fever. 8 Caracallus travelled through the Thraces with the praetorian prefect. When he crossed to Asia, he underwent the trauma of a shipwreck. The ship's yard broke, forcing him onto a skiff with his bodyguards. He escaped danger when he was taken onto a trireme by the prefect of the fleet. 9 He often hunted wild boar and be even stood against a lion. He also bragged in letters sent to friends and boasted that he bad mastered the bravery of Hercules. | 5 1 After doing all this he set out for Gaul and immediately upon his arrival there killed the proconsul of Narbonensis. 2 Thereby great consternation was caused among all who were engaged in administering Gaul, and he incurred the hatred felt for a tyrant; and yet would at times assume a kindly demeanour, despite the fact that by nature he was very savage. 3 After many measures directed against persons and in violation of the rights of communities he was seized with an illness and underwent great suffering. Yet even toward those who nursed him he behaved most brutally. 4 Then he made ready for a journey to the Orient, but interrupted his march and stopped in Dacia. In the region of Raetia he put a number of the natives to death and then harangued his soldiers and made them presents quite as though they were the troops of Sulla. 5 He did not, however, as Commodus had done, permit his men to call him by the names of the gods, for many of them had begun to address him as Hercules because he had killed a lion and some other wild beasts. 6 Yet he did call himself Germanus after defeating the Germans, either in jest or in earnest, for he was foolish and witless and asserted that had he conquered the Lucanians he should have been given the name Lucanicus. 7 At that time men were condemned to death for having urinated in places where there were statues or busts of the Emperor or for having removed garlands from his busts in order to replace them by others, and some were even condemned for wearing them around their necks as preventives of quartan or tertian fever. 8 Then he journeyed through Thrace accompanied by the prefect of the guard. While he was crossing over from here into Asia the yard-arm of his ship broke and he ran great danger of shipwreck, so that, together with his bodyguard, he had to climb down into a lifeboat. From this he was taken up into a trireme by the prefect of the fleet and so was rescued. 9 He took wild boars in great numbers and once he even faced a lion - an occasion on which he prided himself writing to his friends and boasting that he had attained to the prowess of a Hercules. |
| 6 1 Post hoc ad bellum Armeniacum Parthicumque conversus ducem bellicum, qui suis competebat moribus, fecit. 2 Inde Alexandriam petiit, in gymnasium populum convocavit eumque obiurgavit; legi etiam validos ad militiam praecepit. 3 Eos autem quos legerat occidit exemplo Ptolemaei Euergetis qui octavus hoc nomine appellatus est. Dato praeterea signo militibus, ut hospites suos occiderent, magnam caedem Alexandriae fecit. 4 Dehinc per Cadusios et Babylonios ingressus tumultuarie cum Parthorum satrapis manum contulit, feris etiam bestiis in hostes inmissis. 5 Datis ad senatum quasi post victoriam litteris Parthicus appellatus est; nam Germanici nomen patre vivo fuerat consecutus. 6 Deinde cum iterum vellet Parthis bellum inferre atque hibernaret Edessae atque inde Carrhas Luni dei gratia venisset, die natali suo, octavo idus Apriles, ipsis Megalensibus, cum ad requisita naturae discessisset, insidiis a Macrino praefecto praetorii positis, qui post eum invasit imperium, interemptus est. 7 Conscii caedis fuerunt Nemesianus et frater eius Apollinaris Triccianusque, qui praefectus legionis secundae Parthicae militabat et qui equitibus extraordinariis praeerat, non ignorantibus Marcio Agrippa, qui classi praeerat, et praeterea plerisque officialium impulsu Martialis. | 6 1 After this, Caracallus turned his attention to the Armenian and Parthian campaign and appointed as commander someone who rivalled his own behavior. 2 Then he went to Alexandria, where he called the population into the gymnasium and rebuked them. He even ordered the healthy to be taken away into the military. 3 But he killed those whom he took away, following the example of Ptolemy Euergetes, who was the eighth called by that name. A signal was given to the soldiers to begin killing their own guests, and so Caracallus started the great massacre of Alexandria. 4 From there he attacked the Cadusii and the Babylonians and he brought a confused attack upon an army of the Parthians' satrap, even having wild beasts sent against the enemy. 5 Letters were then sent to the senate as if after a victory, and he was given the name Parthicus. He had already acquired the name Germanicus while his father was still alive. 6 Caracallus wanted once again to bring war upon the Parthians and spent the winter at Edessa. He was traveling from there to Carrhae on his birthday, eight days before the Ides of April (during the Megalensian festival), to make an offering to the god Lunus. When he went off to attend to the needs of nature, he was killed in a plot set up by his praetorian prefect Macrinus, who took over the empire after him. 7 Those aware of the assassination included Nemesianus, his brother Apollinaris and Triccianus, who was prefect of the second Parthian legion and commanded the mounted bodyguard. Also among those not ignorant of the conspiracy were Marcius Agrippa, who commanded the fleet, and additionally, by Martialis' instigation, most of the administrative staff. | 6 1 After this, turning to the war with the Armenians and Parthians, he appointed as military commander a man whose character resembled his own. 2 Then he betook himself to Alexandria, and here he called the people together into the gymnasium and heaped abuse on them; he gave orders, moreover, that those who were physically qualified should be enrolled for military service. 3 But those whom he enrolled he put to death, following the example of Ptolemy Euergetes, the eighth of those who bore the name Ptolemy. In addition to this he issued an order to his soldiers to slay their hosts and thus caused great slaughter at Alexandria. 4 Next he advanced through the lands of the Cadusii and the Babylonians and waged a guerilla-warfare with the Parthian satraps, in which wild beasts were even let loose against the enemy. 5 He then sent a letter to the senate as though he had won a real victory and thereupon was given the name Parthicus; the name Germanicus he had assumed during his father's lifetime. 6 After this he wintered at Edessa with the intention of renewing the war against the Parthians. During this time, on the eighth day before the Ides of April, the feast of the Megalensia and his own birthday, while on a journey to Carrhae to do honour to the god Lunus, he stepped aside to satisfy the needs of nature and was thereupon assassinated by the treachery of Macrinus the prefect of the guard, who after his death seized the imperial power. 7 The accomplices in the murder were Nemesianus, his brother Apollinaris, and Triccianus, who was serving as prefect of the Second Legion, the Parthian, and commanded the irregular cavalry. Marcius Agrippa, too, the commander of the fleet, was privy to it, as well as many members of his staff acting on the instigation of Martialis. |
| 7 1 Occisus est autem in medio itinere inter Carrhas et Edessam, cum levandae vesicae gratia ex equo descendisset atque inter protectores suos, coniuratos caedis, ageret. 2 Denique cum illum in equum strator eius levaret, pugione latus eius confodit, conclamatumque ab omnibus est id Martialem fecisse. 3 Et quoniam dei Luni fecimus mentionem, sciendum doctissimis quibusque id memoriae traditum atque ita nunc quoque a Carrhenis praecipue haberi, ut qui Lunam femineo nomine ac sexu putaverit nuncupandam is addictus mulieribus semper inserviat; 4 qui vero marem deum esse crediderit, is dominetur uxori neque ullas muliebres patiatur insidias. 5 Unde, quamvis Graeci vel Aegyptii eo genere quo feminam hominem etiam Lunam deum dicant, mystice tamen Lunum dicunt. | 7 1 Caracallus was killed in the middle of a journey between Carrhae and Edessa. The emperor felt the need to relieve his bladder, and he got down from his horse. He relieved himself while surrounded by his bodyguards, who were conspirators in the assassination. 2 Then when his attendant lifted him onto the horse, the attendant pierced his side with a knife and it was proclaimed by all that Martialis did it. 3 And since we mentioned the god Lunus, it should be noted that it has been related by some very learned men and even now is widely held by those living in Carrhae, that the man who believes Luna should be called using a feminine name and gender will always be a slave led around by women. 4 But the man who believes the god to be male will rule over his wife and never suffer a woman's snares. 5 From this the Greeks and Egyptians, as in the way they say a woman is part of mankind, so they even call Luna a male god, or mystically, Lunus. | 7 1 He was slain in the course of a journey between Carrhae and Edessa, when he had dismounted for the purpose of emptying his bladder and was standing in the midst of his body-guard, who were accomplices in the murder. 2 For his equerry, while helping him to mount, thrust a dagger into his side, and thereupon all shouted out that it had been done by Martialis. 3 Now since we have made mention of the god Lunus, it should be known that all the most learned men have handed down the tradition, and it is at this day so held, particularly by the people of Carrhae, that whoever believes that this deity should be called Luna, with the name and sex of a woman, is subject to women and always their slave; 4 whereas he who believes that the god is a male dominates his wife and is not caught by any woman's wiles. 5 Hence the Greeks and, for that matter, the Egyptians, though they speak of Luna as a "god" in the same way as they include woman in "Man," nevertheless in their mystic rites use the masculine "Lunus." |
| 8 1 Scio de Papiniani nece multos ita in litteras rettulisse, ut caedis non adsciverint causam, aliis alia referentibus; sed ego malui varietatem opinionum edere quam de tanti viri caedi reticere. 2 Papinianum amicissimum fuisse imperatori Severo eumque cum Severo professum sub Scaevola et Severo in advocatione fisci successisse, ut aliqui loquuntur, adfinem etiam per secundam uxorem, memoriae traditur; 3 et huic praecipue utrumque filium a Severo commendatum atque ob hoc concordiae fratrum Antoninorum favisse; 4 egisse quin etiam ne occideretur, cum iam de insidiis eius Bassianus quereretur; atque ideo una cum iis qui fautores fuerant Getae a militibus, non solum permittente verum etiam suadente Antonino, occisum. 5 Multi dicunt Bassianum occiso fratre illi mandasse, ut et in senatu pro se et apud populum facinus dilueret, illum autem respondisse non tam facile parricidium excusari posse quam fieri. 6 Est etiam haec fabella, quod dictare noluerunt orationem qua invehendum erat in fratrem ut causa eius melior fieret qui occiderat; illum autem negantem respondisse illud esse parricidium aliud accusare innocentem occisum. 7 Sed hoc omnino non convenit; nam neque praefectus poterat dictare orationem, et constat eum quasi fautorem Getae occisum. 8 Et fertur quidem Papinianus, cum raptus a militibus ad Palatium traheretur occidendus, praedivinasse, dicens eum stultissimum fore qui in suum subrogaretur locum, nisi adpetitam crudeliter praefecturam vindicaret. 9 Quod factum est; nam Macrinus Antoninum occidit, ut supra exposuimus. 10 Qui cum filio factus in castris imperator filium suum, qui Diadumenus vocabatur, Antoninum vocavit, idcirco quod a praetorianis multum Antoninus desideratus est. | 8 1 I know that many have written, concerning the murder of Papinian, that they cannot pinpoint the cause of the killing because some say one thing and others another. But I prefer to give the variety of opinions rather than be silent on the murder of such a man. 2 Some say Papinian was a very close friend to the emperor Severus, and it is mentioned that Papinian was even related to Severus through the emperor's second wife. 3 To Papinian first and foremost were both sons entrusted by Severus, and for this reason he promoted harmony between the Antonine brothers. 4 Papinian even tried to prevent Geta from being killed, when Bassianus was then complaining about his plotting. And for this reason he was killed along with Geta's supporters, by soldiers who not only had Antoninus' permission but even his encouragement. 5 Many say that after his brother was killed, Bassianus ordered Papinian to defend the crime both alone in the senate and before the people, but Papinian responded that it was far easier to commit parricide than to excuse it. 6 In addition, there is also the story that Papinian refused to give a speech attacking Geta so that it might look better for the man who killed him. But Papinian refused to call it anything other than parricide or to accuse an innocent corpse of any crime. 7 But this story cannot be entirely correct, for the prefect could not give a speech in the senate, though it was probably the case that Papinian was killed for being a supporter of Geta. 8 And it is even said that when Papininan was kidnapped and being dragged to the palace to be killed, he predicted that whoever was chosen in his place would be an idiot unless he avenged a prefecture so cruelly attacked. 9 And this came to pass: for Macrinus killed Antoninus, as we said above. 10 Macrinus was made emperor with his son by the army, and he called his own son, who was named Diadumenus, Antoninus, because Antoninus was greatly missed by the praetorians. | 8 1 Many, I know, have told the story of Papinian's death, but in such a way as to show that they did not know its cause, and each has given a different version. I, however, have preferred to record a variety of opinions rather than to remain silent about the murder of so great a man. 2 It is generally reported that Papinian was a close friend of the Emperor Severus - related to him, some say, through his second wife, - and that he had given instruction along with Severus under Scaevola's direction and later succeeded Severus as pleader for the privy-purse. 3 It is further reported that Severus had particularly entrusted him with the care of his two sons, and for this reason he had always tried to reconcile the brothers Antoninus, 4 and had even pleaded with Bassianus, when he accused his brother of treachery, not to put Geta to death; and for this reason he, together with Geta's supporters, was killed by the soldiers, not only with the consent but even with the encouragement of Antoninus. 5 Many, again, relate that Bassianus, after killing his brother, commanded Papinian to explain away his crime for him in the senate and before the people; to which Papinian replied that it was not so easy to defend fratricide as to commit it. 6 There is also the story that Papinian refused to compose a speech in which, to improve the murderer's case, the brother was to be attacked; and that in his refusal he had declared that to accuse an innocent man who had been murdered was a second act of murder. 7 All of which does not accord with facts; for the prefect of the guard may not compose speeches, and, besides, it is well established that Papinian was killed for being one of Geta's supporters. 8 It is further related that Papinian, when, seized by the soldiers, he was being haled to the Palace to be put to death, foretold the future, saying that whoever should succeed to his position would be an utter fool did he not take vengeance for this brutal attack on the prefecture. 9 And this actually came to pass; for, as we have previously related, Macrinus murdered Antoninus; 10 then, after he had been acclaimed emperor in the camp, together with his son, he gave the latter, who was called Diadumenianus, the name Antoninus, for the reason that an Antoninus was earnestly desired by the praetorian guard. |
| 9 1 Bassianus vixit annis quadraginta tribus. Imperavit annis sex. 2 Publico funere elatus est. Filium reliquit, qui postea et ipse Macedonum Antoninus Heliogabalus dictus est; ita enim nomen Antoninorum inoleverat, ut velli ex animis hominum non posset, quod omnium pectora velut Augusti nomen obsederat. 3 Fuit male moratus et patre duro crudelior. Avidus cibi, vini etiam adpetens, suis odiosus et praeter milites praetorianos omnibus castris exosus. Prorsus nihil inter fratres simile. 4 Opera Romae reliquit thermas nominis sui eximias, quarum cellam solearem architecti negant posse ulla imitatione qua facta est fieri. 5 Nam et ex aere vel cupro cancelli subterpositi esse dicuntur, quibus cameratio tota concredita est, et tantum est spatii, ut id ipsum fieri negent potuisse docti mechanis. 6 Reliquit et porticum patris nomine, quae gesta illius contineret et triumphos et bella. 7 Ipse Caracalli nomen accepit a vestimento, quod populo dederat, demisso usque ad talos. Quod ante non fuerat. 8 Unde hodieque Antoninianae dicuntur caracallae huiusmodi, in usu maxime Romanae plebis frequentatae. 9 Idem viam novam munivit, quae est sub eius thermis, Antoninianis scilicet, qua pulchrius inter Romanas plateas non facile quicquam invenias. 10 Sacra Isidis Romam deportavit et templa ubique magnifica eidem deae fecit. Sacra etiam maiore reverentia celebravit, quam ante celebrabantur. 11 In quo quidem mihi mirum videtur, quemadmodum sacra Isidis primum per hunc Romam venisse dicantur, cum Antoninus Commodus ita ea celebraverit ut et Anubin portaret et pausas ederet; nisi forte iste addidit celebritati, non eam primus invexit. 12 Corpus eius Antoninorum sepulchro inlatum est, ut ea sedes reliquias eius acciperet quae nomen addiderat. | 9 1 Bassianus lived forty-three years. He was emperor for six. 2 He was deified with a public funeral. He left behind a son, who afterwards was called Marcus Antoninus Heliogabalus. For the name of the Antonines was so established that it could not be plucked from men's minds because it remained in the hearts of all, just like the name Augustus. 3 Caracallus was ill-mannered and more cruel than his harsh father. He was greedy for food and fond of wine. He was hateful to his own and, except for the pretorian soldiers, hated in all the camps. There was absolutely nothing in common between the brothers. 4 Among the public works Caracallus left in Rome are the enormous baths bearing his name, whose sandal-chamber, architects say, cannot be duplicated. 5 The supports, made of bronze or copper, are said to be hidden and on them rests the entire vault. The vault is of such size that those skilled in construction work said it could not have been built. 6 Caracallus left behind a porticus with his father's name, which shows Severus' deeds, triumphs and wars. 7 Caracallus himself received his name from a garment which he introduced to the people, a garment that went down to the ankles. This had not been around earlier. 8 From then on and even today caracallae of this sort are called Antonine and are very much in use among the Roman plebs. 9 He also built a new road which runs below his baths - the Antonine baths - and you will not easily find anything more beautiful among the streets of Rome. 10 He brought the cult of Isis to Rome and built magnificent temples to that goddess everywhere. He also celebrated the rites with greater reverence than they were celebrated before. ll It seems strange to me how the rites of lsis are said to have first come to Rome through Caracallus, because Antoninus Commodus celebrated them to the point of carrying Anubis himself and performing the pausae. Unless perhaps Caracallus added to the worship and was not the first to introduce it. 12 His body was laid to rest in the tomb of the Antonines so that the place, which added its name to his, received his remains. | 9 1 Bassianus lived for forty-three years and ruled for six. 2 He was borne to the grave with a public funeral. He left a son, who afterward received, like his father, the name Antoninus - Marcus Antoninus Elagabalus; for such a hold had the name of the Antonines that it could not be removed from the thoughts of the people, because it had taken root in the hearts of all, even as had the name of Augustus. 3 His mode of life was evil and he was more brutal even than his cruel father. He was gluttonous in his use of food and addicted to wine, hated by his household and detested in every camp save that of the praetorian guard; and between him and his brother there was no resemblance whatever. 4 Among the public works which he left at Rome was the notable Bath named after himself, the cella soliaris of which,[2] so the architects declare, cannot be reproduced in the way in which it was built by him. 5 For it is said that the whole vaulting rested on gratings of bronze or copper, placed underneath it, but such is its size, that those who are versed in mechanics declare that it could not have been built in this way. 6 And he left a portico, too, named after his father and intended to contain a record of his achievements, both his triumphs and his wars. 7 He himself assumed the name Caracallus, taken from the garment reaching down to the heels, which he gave to the populace and which before his time had not been in vogue. 8 Hence at this present day, too, the hooded cloaks of this kind, affected especially by the Roman plebs, are called Antonine. 9 He also constructed a new street at the side of his bath (that is to say, the Antonine Bath), one more beautiful than which it were hard to find among all the streets of Rome. 10 He brought the cult of Isis to Rome and built magnificent temples to this goddess everywhere, celebrating her rites with even greater reverence than they had ever been celebrated before. 11 In all this, however, it is a source of wonder to me how it can be said that it was he who first brought the rites of Isis to Rome, for Antoninus Commodus celebrated them too, and he even carried about the statue of Anubis and made all the ritualistic pauses. Perhaps, however, Bassianus merely added to the renown of the goddess and was not actually the first to bring her to Rome. 12 His body was laid in the tomb of the Antonines, in order that the resting-place which had given him his name might also receive his remains. |
| 10 1 Interest scire quemadmodum novercam suam Iuliam uxorem ducisse dicatur. 2 Quae cum esset pulcherrima et quasi per neglegentiam se maxima corporis parte nudasset, dixissetque Antoninus, "Vellem, si liceret," respondisse fertur, "Si libet, licet. An nescis te imperatorem esse et leges dare, non accipere?" 3 Quo audito furor inconditus ad effectum criminis roboratus est nuptiasque eas celebravit quas, si sciret se leges dare vere, solus prohibere debuisset. 4 Matrem enim (non alio dicenda erat nomine) duxit uxorem et ad parricidium iunxit incestum, si quidem eam matrimonio sociavit cuius filium nuper occiderat. 5 Non ab re est etiam diasyrticum quiddam in eum dictum addere. 6 Nam cum Germanici et Parthici et Arabici et Alamannici nomen adscriberet (nam Alamannorum gentem devicerat) Helvius Pertinax, filius Pertinacis, dicitur ioco dixisse, "Adde, si placet, etiam Geticus Maximus," quod Getam occiderat fratrem, et Gothi Getae dicerentur, quos ille, dum ad orientem transiit, tumultuariis proeliis devicerat. | 10 1 It is interesting to note how he is said to have married his stepmother Julia. 2 She was a very beautiful woman and once, seemingly by accident, she uncovered most of her body. Antoninus said, "I'd want it, if it were legal." She is said to have responded, "If you want it, it's legal. Don't you know that you're the emperor? You make laws, you're not bound by them." 3 When he heard this, a confused madness drove him to commit the crime and he celebrated a wedding which he alone really ought to have prohibited (regardless of whether he knew he was the one with the power to make the law). 4 For he made love to hls mother (what else would you call her?) and added incest to parricide, since he joined in matrimony the woman whose son he had recently killed. 5 Though not from this episode, one might add a certain satiric comment made against Caracallus. 6 When he took on the names Germanicus, Parthicus, Arabicus and Alamannicus (for he conquered a tribe of the Alamanni), Helvius Pertinax, the son of Pertinax, is said to have joked, "Add, if it pleases you, Geticus Maximus" - both because Caracallus had killed his brother Geta and because the Goths are called Getae. Caracallus conquered the Gotha in fierce battles during his trip to the East. | 10 1 It is of interest to know the way in which they say he married his stepmother Julia. 2 She was a very beautiful woman, and once when she displayed a considerable part of her person, as it were in carelessness, Antoninus said, "I should like to, if I might," whereupon, they relate, she replied, "If you wish, you may; are you not aware that you are the emperor and that you make the laws and do not receive them?" 3 By these words his violent passion was strengthened for the perpetration of a crime, and he contracted a marriage, which, were he in truth aware that he made the laws, it were his sole duty to forbid. 4 For he took to wife his mother (by no other name should she be called), and to fratricide he added incest, for he joined to himself in marriage the woman whose son he had recently slain. 5 It is not out of place to include a certain gibe that was uttered at his expense. 6 For when he assumed the surnames Germanicus, Parthicus, Arabicus, and Alamannicus (for he conquered the Alamanni too), Helvius Pertinax, the son of Pertinax, said to him in jest, so it is related, "Add to the others, please, that of Geticus Maximus "; for he had slain his brother Geta, and Getae is a name for the Goths, whom he conquered, while on his way to the East, in a series of skirmishes. |
| 11 1 Occidendi Getae multa prodigia exstiterunt, ut in vita eius exponemus. 2 Nam quamvis prior ille e vita excesserit, nos tamen ordinem secuti sumus, ut qui et prior natus est et qui prior imperare coeperat, prior scriberetur. 3 Eo sane tempore quo ab exercitu appellatus Augustus vivo patre, quod ille pedibus aeger gubernare non posse videretur imperium, contunsis animis militum et tribunorum Severus dicitur animo volutasse, ut et hunc occideret, nisi repugnassent praefecti eius, graves viri. 4 Aliqui contra dicunt praefectos voluisse id fieri, sed Septimium noluisse, ne et severitas illius crudelitatis nomine inquinaretur, et, cum auctores criminis milites fuerint, adulescens stultae temeritatis poenas lueret tam gravis supplicii titulo, ut a patre videretur occisus. 5 Hic tamen omnium durissimus et, ut uno complectamur verbo, parricida et incestus, patris, matris, fratris inimicus, a Macrino, qui eum occiderat, timore militum et maxime praetorianorum inter deos relatus est. 6 Habet templum, habet Salios, habet sodales Antoninianos. Qui Faustinae templum et divale nomen eripuit, 7 certe templum quod ei sub Tauri radicibus fundaverat maritus, in quo postea filius huius Heliogabalus Antoninus sibi vel Iovi Syrio vel Soli - incertum id est - templum fecit. | 11 1 There were many portents for the killing of Geta, as we will relate in his biography. 2 For although he died earlier, we have nonetheless followed the order in which he who was born first and began to rule first is written up first. 3 Caracallus was proclaimed Augustus by the army back when his father was still alive, at a time when Severus, with his weak feet, seemed unable to govern the empire. After the plot by the troops and tribunes was destroyed, Severus is said even to have been ready to kill Caracallus but that his prefect, a man of strict morals, was offended. 4 Others say, however, that the prefect wanted it done, but that Septimius refused. Severus feared both that his harshness would be polluted with the name of cruelty and that, although soldiers were the ones responsible for the crime, the boy would then be punished for a stupid, rash decision with a sentence so serious that it would be assumed he was killed by his father for other reasons, 5 Caracallus, however, was the harshest of all and, if we describe him with a single word, a parricide and a pervert, an enemy to his father, mother and brother. Caracallus was deified by Macrinus, who killed him, out of fear of the soldiers, especially the praetorians. 6 He has a temple, he has Salii, he bas Antonine sodales, this man who took away the temple of Faustina and the divine name, 7 certainly the temple, which her husband founded at the foot of Mount Taurus, on which afterward his son Heliogabalus Antoninus built a temple either to Syrian Jupiter or to the Sun - it's uncertain to which. | 11 1 Many omens predicting Geta's murder occurred, as we shall relate in his biography. 2 For although Geta was the first to depart from this life, we shall none the less follow our usual plan, that the first to be born and the first to begin his rule shall be the first to be described. 3 On that occasion, moreover, when the soldiers hailed him as Augustus though his father was still alive, because it seemed to them that Severus, now afflicted with a disease in his feet, could no longer rule the Empire, Severus, it is said, when the plot of the soldiers and tribunes was crushed, had thought of putting him to death; this, however, was opposed by the prefects, who were men of great influence. 4 Some, on the other hand, say that the prefects wished to have him killed, but Severus refused, for fear that the severity of the act might be misrepresented as a piece of mere cruelty, and that, whereas it was in reality the soldiers who were guilty, the young man might pay the penalty for an act of rash folly with the stigma of a punishment so severe - namely, of seeming to have been put to death by his father. 5 Nevertheless, this emperor, the most cruel of men, and, to include all in a single phrase, a fratricide and committer of incest, the foe of his father, mother, and brother, was raised to the rank of the gods by Macrinus, his slayer, through fear of the soldiers, especially of the praetorians. 6 He has a temple, he has a board of Salii, he has an Antonine brotherhood, he who himself took from Faustina not only her temple but also her name as a goddess - 7 that temple, at least, which her husband had built her in the foot-hills of the Taurus, and in which this man's son Elagabalus Antoninus afterwards made a shrine, either for himself or for the Syrian Jupiter (the matter is uncertain) or for the Sun. |
| Translation Michael Meckler, 1994. | Translation David Magie, 1924. |
| Antoninus Geta | The Life of Antoninus Geta |
| 2 6 De hoc eodem Severus, gnarus geniturae illius, cuius, ut plerique Afrorum, peritissimus fuit, dixisse fertur: 7 "Mirum mihi videtur, Iuvenalis amantissimus, Geta noster divus futurus, cuius nihil imperiale in genitura video". Erat enim Iuvenalis praefectus eius praetorii. 8 Nec eum fefellit. Nam Bassianus, cum eum occidisset ac vereretur tyrannicam ex parricidio notam audiretque posse mitigari facinus, si divum fratrem appellaret, dixisse fertur, 9 "Sit divus, dum non sit vivus". Denique eum inter divos rettulit atque ideo utcumque rediit cum fama in gratiam parricida. | 2 6 With regard to this same Geta, Severus, on learning his horoscope - a study in which, like most Africans, he was very proficient - is said to have made the remark: 7 "It seems to me strange, my dear Juvenalis, that our Geta is destined to be a deified emperor, for in his horoscope I see nothing imperial." Now Juvenalis was his prefect of the guard. 8 And Severus was not mistaken. For when Bassianus had killed Geta and was in fear of being branded as a tyrant because of his act of fratricide, he was told that his crime could be mitigated were he to give his brother the appellation of the Deified; he then remarked, it is said, 9 "Let him be deified (divus) provided he is not alive (vivus)." Accordingly, he placed him among the deified emperors and so came back into favour with a good reputation, fratricide though he was. |
| 6 1 Occiso eo pars militum quae incorrupta erat parricidium aegerrime accepit, dicentibus cunctis duobus se liberis fidem promisisse, duobus servare debere, clausisque portis diu non est imperator admissus. 2 Denique nisi querellis de Geta editis et animis militum delenitis, inormibus etiam stipendiis datis Romam Bassianus redire non potuit. 3 Post hoc denique et Papinianus et multi alii interempti sunt, qui vel concordiae faverant vel qui partium Getae fuerant, ita ut utriusque ordinis viri et in balneo et cenantes et in publico percuterentur, Papinianus ipse securi percussus sit, improbante Bassiano, quod non gladio res peracta sit. 4 Ventum denique est usque ad seditionem urbanicianorum militum, quos quidem non levi auctoritate Bassianus compressit, tribuno eorum, ut alii dicunt, interfecto, ut alii, relegato. 5 Ipse autem tantum timuit, ut loricam sub lato habens clavo etiam Curiam sit ingressus atque ita rationem facti sui et necis Geticae reddiderit. 6 Quo quidem tempore Helvius Pertinax, qui postea est ab eodem Bassiano interemptus, recitanti Faustino praetori et dicenti "Sarmaticus maximus et Parthicus maximus," dixisse dicitur, "Adde et Geticus maximus," quasi Gothicus. 7 Quod dictum altius in pectus Bassiani descendit, et postea nece Pertinacis est adprobatum, nec solum Pertinacis sed et aliorum, ut supra dictum est, passim et inique. 8 Helvium autem etiam suspectum habuit adfectatae tyrannidis, quod esset in amore omnium et filius Pertinacis imperatoris. Quae res nulli facile privato satis tuta est. | 6 1 After the murder of Geta, those soldiers who had not been bribed received the news of the fratricide with anger, and all declared they had sworn allegiance to both sons and ought to maintain it to both. They then closed the gates of the Camp and for a long time the Emperor was not admitted. 2 And not until he had quieted their anger by bitter words about Geta and by giving them great sums of money, was Bassianus able to return to Rome. 3 Next, Papinian and many others besides, who had either desired concord or had been partisans of Geta, were killed; men of both senatorial and equestrian rank were slain while in the bath, or at table, or in the street, and Papinian himself was struck down with an axe, whereupon Bassianus found fault that the business had not been done with a sword. 4 At last matters came to the point of a mutiny among the city-troops; Bassianus, however, brought them to order with no light hand, and their tribune was put to death, as some relate, or, as others, sent into exile. 5 Yet Bassianus himself was in such fear that he entered the Senate-house wearing a cuirass under his broad-striped tunic and thus clad rendered an account of his actions and of the death of Geta. 6 It was at this time, too, it is said, that Helvius Pertinax, the son of Pertinax, afterwards killed by Bassianus, remarked to the praetor Faustinus, who was reading aloud and had uttered the titles Sarmaticus Maximus and Parthicus Maximus, "Add to these also Geticus Maximus," that is to say, Gothicus. 7 This remark sank deep into the heart of Bassianus, as was afterwards proved by his murder of Pertinax, and not of Pertinax alone, but, as we have said before, of many others as well, far and wide and with utter injustice. 8 He suspected Helvius, moreover, of aspiring to the imperial office, merely because he was loved by all and was the son of Pertinax the Emperor - a combination none too safe for any man content to remain a commoner. |
| 7 1 Funus Getae accuratius fuisse dicitur quam eius qui fratri videretur occisus. 2 Inlatusque est maiorum sepulchro, hoc est Severi, quod est in Appia Via euntibus ad portam dextra, specie Septizonii exstructum, quod sibi ille vivus ornaverat. 3 Occidere voluit et matrem Getae, novercam suam, quod fratrem lugeret, et mulieres, quas post reditum de Curia flentes repperit. 4 Fuit praeterea eius inmanitatis Antoninus, ut iis praecipue blandiretur quos ad necem destinabat, ut eius magis blandimentum timeretur quam iracundia. 5 Mirum sane omnibus videbatur quod mortem Getae totiens etiam ipse fleret quotiens nominis eius mentio fieret, quotiens imago videretur aut statua. 6 Varietas autem tanta fuit Antonini Bassiani, immo tanta sitis caedis, ut modo fautores Getae, modo inimicos occideret, quos fors obtulisset. Quo facto magis Geta desiderabatur. | 7 1 The funeral of Geta was too splendid, it is said, for a man supposed to have been killed by his brother. 2 He was laid in the tomb of his ancestors, of Severus, that is, on the Via Appia at the right as you go to the gate; it was constructed after the manner of the Septizonium, which Severus during his life had embellished for himself. 3 Antoninus also planned to slay Geta's mother, his own step-mother, because she mourned for his brother, and with her the women whom on his return from the Senate-house he found in tears. 4 He was, moreover, so cruel that he lavished his favours particularly on those whom he had destined for death, so that his favour was viewed with more fear than his anger. 5 It seemed, indeed, strange to all that he himself wept for the death of Geta whenever he heard his name mentioned or saw his portrait or his statue. 6 Such, however, was the caprice, or rather the bloodthirstiness, of Antoninus Bassianus, that he slew, now the partisans of Geta, and now his enemies, according as chance threw them in his way. As a result, Geta was the more regretted. |
| Translation David Magie, 1924. | |
[1] Adding Antoninum, keeping dixit. Other editors change dixit into dilexit.
[2] Reading soliaris instead of solearis.