DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18096#0099
Africa under Trajan
57
of the Senate and the wealthier classes to reduce the number
to 150,000. This number was increased to 200,000 by Augus-
tus, who, according to Suetonius, was personally inclined to
abolish for ever this objectionable custom.1
The general fertility and capabilities of the soil of North
Africa are attested by numerous authors. According to Plutarch,
the town of Leptis alone, after Caesar's decisive victory at
Thapsus, was condemned to a fine of 2,500,000 pounds of oil ;
and Hirtius, who accompanied Csesar on this expedition, tells
us that this was a very moderate demand. The use of oil was
indispensable for lamps as well as for baths. For the latter
purpose the consumption in the days of the Csesars was enor-
mous, and the production of this article, imposed as a tax on
Africa for the benefit of Rome, amounted annually to about
300,000 English gallons. Tacitus also mentions that Vespasian,
in disputing the throne with Vitellius. conceived the project of
invading Africa by sea and land, and seizing the granaries. On
the death of his rival he charged with wheat every ship of the
Empire. At Rusicada (Philippeville) may still be seen the
remains of enormous granaries ; and we learn that when Caesar's
army landed in the neighbourhood of Leptis, an immense
wheat supply stored at Thysdrus (El-Djem) was placed at the
service of the troops.
Pliny the Elder is profuse in his praises of Africa, and tells
us that the climate is so good, so kind, and so beneficial, that
after the seed is sown the land is not visited for nine months,
and then the corn is cut down and laid on the threshing-floors ;
the reason being that the drought keeps down all weeds, and
the dews that fall by night are sufficient to refresh and nourish
the corn. In another of his comments 2 he says that there is a
city called Tacape (Gabes) in the midst of the sands, the neigh-
bourhood of which is so fruitful that it passes wonder and is
incredible. There may be seen a mighty date-tree under which
grows an olive, under that a fig-tree, and that overspreads a
pomegranate under the shade whereof is a vine, and under the
compass thereof they sow corn and then herbs, all in one and
the same year. The vines in the neighbourhood bear twice a
year and yield ripe grapes for a double vintage. Once again,
1 Suetonius, Aug. 42.
2 Pliny, Hist. Nat. xviii. 22.
57
of the Senate and the wealthier classes to reduce the number
to 150,000. This number was increased to 200,000 by Augus-
tus, who, according to Suetonius, was personally inclined to
abolish for ever this objectionable custom.1
The general fertility and capabilities of the soil of North
Africa are attested by numerous authors. According to Plutarch,
the town of Leptis alone, after Caesar's decisive victory at
Thapsus, was condemned to a fine of 2,500,000 pounds of oil ;
and Hirtius, who accompanied Csesar on this expedition, tells
us that this was a very moderate demand. The use of oil was
indispensable for lamps as well as for baths. For the latter
purpose the consumption in the days of the Csesars was enor-
mous, and the production of this article, imposed as a tax on
Africa for the benefit of Rome, amounted annually to about
300,000 English gallons. Tacitus also mentions that Vespasian,
in disputing the throne with Vitellius. conceived the project of
invading Africa by sea and land, and seizing the granaries. On
the death of his rival he charged with wheat every ship of the
Empire. At Rusicada (Philippeville) may still be seen the
remains of enormous granaries ; and we learn that when Caesar's
army landed in the neighbourhood of Leptis, an immense
wheat supply stored at Thysdrus (El-Djem) was placed at the
service of the troops.
Pliny the Elder is profuse in his praises of Africa, and tells
us that the climate is so good, so kind, and so beneficial, that
after the seed is sown the land is not visited for nine months,
and then the corn is cut down and laid on the threshing-floors ;
the reason being that the drought keeps down all weeds, and
the dews that fall by night are sufficient to refresh and nourish
the corn. In another of his comments 2 he says that there is a
city called Tacape (Gabes) in the midst of the sands, the neigh-
bourhood of which is so fruitful that it passes wonder and is
incredible. There may be seen a mighty date-tree under which
grows an olive, under that a fig-tree, and that overspreads a
pomegranate under the shade whereof is a vine, and under the
compass thereof they sow corn and then herbs, all in one and
the same year. The vines in the neighbourhood bear twice a
year and yield ripe grapes for a double vintage. Once again,
1 Suetonius, Aug. 42.
2 Pliny, Hist. Nat. xviii. 22.