[101] L. NONIUS ASPRENAS held the office of consul with M. Arricinius Clemens in the 14th year of Domitian’s reign, (94 A.D.) and therefore was still in office “last autumn.” [102] APPIAN WAY. The _Via Appia_, built by one of the Claudia gens (the Censor Appius Claudius Caecus, 312 B.C.) led from Rome across Capua to Brundisium (the modern Brindisi). Statius (_Silv._ II, 12), calls it the queen of roads (_regina viarum_). A large portion of its admirable pavement, as well as the ruins of the tombs on its sides, exist at the present day. [103] HEALTH AND BLESSINGS! The Romans always began their letters by mentioning the writer’s name, who wishes health and blessings to the person addressed. Thus the commencement of the letter given here, literally interpreted, should have run as follows: TITUS CLAUDIUS MUCIANUS WISHES HIS LUCILIA, Health and Blessings. _T. Claudius Mucianus Luciliae suae, S.P. D._ [104] CENTENNIAL FESTIVAL. A brilliant spectacle in the arena, the amphitheatre, etc., which, as its name implies, was celebrated every hundred years. Domitian, however, disregarded the necessity of an interval of a hundred years, by reckoning, as Suetonius (_Dom._ 4) relates, from the one before the last, which took place under Augustus, instead of from the very last, that was celebrated in the reign of Claudius. In this romance the time of the Domitian centennial festivities is placed somewhat _later_ than they really occurred. [105] ALBANUM. Domitian (Suet. _Dom._ 4) had an estate at the foot of the Albanian Hills, and many rich Romans had summer villas near, forming at last the town now called Albano. [106] PALATINE. Palatium, the imperial palace on the Palatine Hill. The word “palace” is derived from “Palatium,” as “Kaiser” comes from “Caesar.” [107] NAZARENES. The name usually given to Christians, who, for a long time were regarded by the Romans as a Jewish sect. See the words of Dio Cassius (LXVII, 16): “who inclined to Judaism,” where he refers to the Christians, who were persecuted under Domitian. [108] M. COCCEIUS NERVA from Narnia in Umbria, born 32 A.D., a senator. [109] LUCIUS NORBANUS. See Dio Cass., LXVII, 15.