tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147831407177570940.post8759005314925358968..comments2023-11-15T14:32:57.085+00:00Comments on Ausonius: Symmachus to Ausonius (2)Gavin Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662022190390636175noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147831407177570940.post-41715517649025168142009-09-17T18:22:57.202+00:002009-09-17T18:22:57.202+00:00As Ammianus tells us in 27.3.4, some years after h...As Ammianus tells us in 27.3.4, some years after his prefecture the elder Symmachus had his fine house in Trastevere burnt down, 'ea re perciti, quod vilis quidam plebeius finxerat illum dixisse, sine indice ullo vel teste, libenter se vino proprio calcarias exstincturum, quam id venditurum pretiis quibus sperabant.' i.e., spurred on because some vulgar plebeian had made up the tale - without informant or witness - that he'd said that he's rather use his own wine for slaking lime kilns that sell it at the price they hoped for. Wine was in fact often used for such purposes (Pliny NH 36.181), and the Roman people often rioted because of wine shortages.<br /><br />Ammianus loves reporting memorable rumours and then disclaiming responsibility!Gavin Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10662022190390636175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147831407177570940.post-34560836762159878712009-09-17T18:04:11.452+00:002009-09-17T18:04:11.452+00:00What was the alleged unwise remark of Symmachus se...What was the alleged unwise remark of Symmachus senior that got the plebs so het up?Richardhttp://simonides.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com