[On the occasion of the Culenian [Footnote: Nobody knows what the Culenian games were; Valois guesses that they may have been an Alexandrian festival. The text of this whole chapter is in a very ragged condition, and should not be held too strictly accountable in the matter of sense or cohesion.] spectacle severe censure was passed, not only upon those who there carried on their accustomed pursuits, but also upon the spectators.] DIO'S ROMAN HISTORY 78 Antoninus's treacherous campaign against Artabanus, the Parthian (chapters 1-3). Antoninus's death (chapters 4-6). Foreshadowings of his death, and the abuse heaped upon him dead (chapters 7-10). About Macrinus Augustus, and his excellencies and faults (chapters 11-15). His letters and commands to the senate, and other official acts (chapters 16-22). Death of Julia Augusta (chapters 23, 24). Inauspicious signs: peace arranged with Artabanus after submitting to a defeat (chapters 25-27). Uprising of the soldiers: Pseudantoninus is proclaimed as emperor by the soldiers (chapters 28-31). How Macrinus, conquered in battle, took to flight and was cut down after the capture of his son (chapters 32-41). DURATION OF TIME. C. Attius Sabinus (II), Cornelius Annullinus (A.D. 216 = a.u. 969 = Sixth of Antoninus.) C. Bruttius Præsens, T. Messius Extricatus (II). (A.D. 217 = a.u. 970 = Seventh of Antoninus, from Feb. 4th to April 8th.) M. Opellius Macrinus Aug., Q.M. Coclatinus Adventus. (A.D. 218 = a.u. 971. The first year of Macrinus ends April 11th and his second year is abruptly terminated June 8th.) _(BOOK 79, BOISSEVAIN.)_ [Sidenote: A.D. 216 (_a.u._ 969)] [Sidenote:--1--] The next thing was a campaign against the Parthians and the pretext that was used was that Artabanus had refused to view favorably his wooing and give him his daughter in marriage. (But he knew well enough that, while pretending to want to marry her, he in fact was anxious to detach the Parthian kingdom.) So he damaged a large section of the country around Media by means of a sudden incursion, sacked many citadels, won over Arbela, dug open the royal tombs of the Parthians, and flung the bones about. The Parthians would not engage him at close quarters, and therefore I have had nothing of especial interest to record concerning the doings of that expedition except, perhaps, one anecdote. Two soldiers who had seized a skin of wine came to him, each claiming the booty as entirely his own. Being bidden by him to divide the wine equally they drew their swords and cut the wine skin in two, apparently expecting each to get a half with the wine in it. They so dreaded their emperor that they troubled him even with such details and showed such scrupulousness as to lose both wineskin and wine.