[798] Tacitus (Hist. iii.) differs from Suetonius, saying that Domitian took refuge with a client of his father's near the Velabrum. Perhaps he found it more safe afterwards to cross the Tiber. [799] One of Domitian's coins bears on the reverse a captive female and soldier, with GERMANIA DEVICTA. [800] VESPASIAN, c. xii; TITUS, c. vi. [801] Such excavations had been made by Julius and by Augustus [AUG. xliii.], and the seats for the spectators fitted up with timber in a rude way. That was on the other side of the Tiber. The Naumachia of Domitian occupies the site of the present Piazza d'Espagna, and was larger and more ornamented. [802] A.U.C. 841. See AUGUSTUS, c. xxxi. [803] This feast was held in December. Plutarch informs us that it was instituted in commemoration of the seventh hill being included in the city bounds. [804] The Capitol had been burnt, for the third time, in the great fire mentioned TITUS, c. viii. The first fire happened in the Marian war, after which it was rebuilt by Pompey, the second in the reign of Vitellius. [805] This forum, commenced by Domitian and completed by Nerva, adjoined the Roman Forum and that of Augustus, mentioned in c. xxix. of his life. From its communicating with the two others, it was called Transitorium. Part of the wall which bounded it still remains, of a great height, and 144 paces long. It is composed of square masses of freestone, very large, and without any cement; and it is not carried in a straight line, but makes three or four angles, as if some buildings had interfered with its direction. [806] The residence of the Flavian family was converted into a temple. See c. i. of the present book. [807] The Stadium was in the shape of a circus, and used for races both of men and horses. [808] The Odeum was a building intended for musical performances. There were four of them at Rome. [809] See before, c. iv. [810] See VESPASIAN, c. xiv. [811] See NERD, c. xvi. [812] This absurd edict was speedily revoked. See afterwards c. xiv. [813] This was an ancient law levelled against adultery and other pollutions, named from its author Caius Scatinius, a tribune of the people. There was a Julian law, with the same object. See AUGUSTUS, c. xxxiv. [814] Geor. xi. 537. [815] See Livy, xxi. 63, and Cicero against Verres, v. 18. [816] See VESPASIAN, c. iii. [817] Cant names for gladiators. [818] The faction which favoured the "Thrax" party. [819] DOMITIAN, c. i. [820] See VESPASIAN, c. xiv. [821] This cruel punishment is described in NERO, c. xlix. [822] Gentiles who were proselytes to the Jewish religion; or, perhaps, members of the Christian sect, who were confounded with them. See the note to TIBERIUS, c. xxxvi. The tax levied on the Jews was two drachmas per head. It was general throughout the empire.