But the burnishing of the Romans to the high polish which they finally attained in the arts was a slow process, and one which met with many interruptions, according as their rulers were individually affected by a love of the artistic—a fact which in itself would show that art was not an inherent quality in the Roman nature to the like degree that it was in that of the Greek. To admire the Grecian æsthetic culture was at first considered an evidence of effeminacy, and even Cato exclaimed against the arts not seventeen years after the taking of Syracuse. The Consul Mummius, in 146 B.C., some hundred years later, after the battle which resulted in the capture of Corinth, proved very conclusively that he had very little appreciation of the merit of the treasures he found there, for he not only destroyed a great many, but shipped to Rome many more, for the simple reason that, recognizing how much they were prized by the Corinthians, he wisely saw that they might be useful in Rome. This sacking of Grecian cities was quite popular, and the Roman generals, in their conquests, seemed to strive which should bring away to Rome the greatest number of statues and pictures. The elder Scipio despoiled Spain and Africa, Flamius Sylla and Mummius exported shiploads of the art of Greece, Æmilius despoiled Macedonia, and Scipio the younger, when he destroyed Carthage, transferred to Rome the chief ornaments of that city. In fact, the Roman generals were remarkable as art pilferers, using the spoils not alone to adorn their public buildings and institutions, but in some instances their private houses and palaces as well. It is related of Scaurus that he embellished his temporary theatre, erected for a few days’ use, with no less than three thousand statues. He also returned to Rome with all the pictures of Sicyon, one of the most eminent schools of painting in Greece, on a pretence that they would compensate for a debt due the Roman people. From this habit of drawing on foreigners it finally came to pass that private citizens took the fever and entered upon the luxury. None was earlier in the field than the Luculli, particularly Lucius Lucullus. Julius Cæsar was personally a great collector, his hobby being gems, while his successor, Augustus, displayed an acute interest in Corinthian vases.