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Iberia| Display Latin text Translated by Rev. Canon Roberts Book
VII Chapter 2: Scenic Representations first introduced.[364 BC]
Return to index The pestilence lasted into the following year.
The new consuls were Gaius Sulpicius Peticus and Gaius Licinius
Stolo. Nothing worth mentioning took place, except that in order
to secure the peace of the gods a lectisternium was instituted,
the third since the foundation of the City (1). But the violence
of the epidemic was not alleviated by any aid from either men or
gods, and it is asserted that as men's minds were completely
overcome by superstitious terrors they introduced, amongst other
attempts to placate the wrath of heaven, scenic representations
(2), a novelty to a nation of warriors who had hitherto only had
the games of the Circus. They began, however, in a small way, as
nearly everything does, and small as they were, they were
borrowed from abroad. The players were sent for from Etruria;
ther