DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51387#0026
24 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH ACADEMY
III
On the question of the disposition of treasure found, the
enactments of Roman Law varied from time to time.1
It has been conjectured2 from the story of Caesellius
Bassus that, before the time of Nerva and Hadrian, the
treasury claimed the whole of treasure found. This story
may be briefly told, after Tacitus.3 It appears that the
Emperor Nero was completely deceived by the tale of a half
crazy person, Caesellius Bassus, of Punic birth, who reported
that he had found in his land (in Africa) an immensely deep
cave, containing a great quantity of gold, not coined, but
in very heavy ingots. He ‘showed by conjecture’ that Dido
after founding Carthage had hidden her wealth there,4 in
order that the new population should not be corrupted, or
the hostile kings of the Numidians tempted to make war
upon her. Without testing the story, Nero spread the report,
and sent a fleet to bring home the treasure as though it were
already won.5 The affair was the talk of Rome, and the
accident that the second quinquennial festival (a.d. 64) was
just then being celebrated gave bards6 and orators an
opportunity of celebrating this wonderful gift of the gods.7
There was wild expenditure in anticipation, and consequent
public impoverishment. Bassus dug all over his own and
neighbouring land, with local labour and protected by the
military. At last the bubble burst, and coming to his senses
1 The best summary of the subject is probably still in Jac. Gotho-
fredus’ commentary on the Codex Theodosianus, t. iii, 1738, p. 513 b
(Kochy’s, in Civilistische Erorterungen, i, Leipzig, 1797, is not accessible to
me.) A good short account in Schwach, pp. 118 ff.; see also M. Braun,
Der Schatzerwerb (Greifswald Diss., 1898), pp. 18-27.
2 By Gothofredus, p. 514, col. a.
3 Tacitus, Annal. xvi. 1-3. Cp. Suetonius, Nero, 31.
4 Apparently, in part at least, a treasure buried for the second time I
See Virg. Aen. i. 358-9.
5 partam is better than the emendation paratam.
6 a vatibus oratoribusque (Brotier) is a sound emendation of the MS.
auaratoribus oratoribusque.
7 Obvias opes deferre deos.
III
On the question of the disposition of treasure found, the
enactments of Roman Law varied from time to time.1
It has been conjectured2 from the story of Caesellius
Bassus that, before the time of Nerva and Hadrian, the
treasury claimed the whole of treasure found. This story
may be briefly told, after Tacitus.3 It appears that the
Emperor Nero was completely deceived by the tale of a half
crazy person, Caesellius Bassus, of Punic birth, who reported
that he had found in his land (in Africa) an immensely deep
cave, containing a great quantity of gold, not coined, but
in very heavy ingots. He ‘showed by conjecture’ that Dido
after founding Carthage had hidden her wealth there,4 in
order that the new population should not be corrupted, or
the hostile kings of the Numidians tempted to make war
upon her. Without testing the story, Nero spread the report,
and sent a fleet to bring home the treasure as though it were
already won.5 The affair was the talk of Rome, and the
accident that the second quinquennial festival (a.d. 64) was
just then being celebrated gave bards6 and orators an
opportunity of celebrating this wonderful gift of the gods.7
There was wild expenditure in anticipation, and consequent
public impoverishment. Bassus dug all over his own and
neighbouring land, with local labour and protected by the
military. At last the bubble burst, and coming to his senses
1 The best summary of the subject is probably still in Jac. Gotho-
fredus’ commentary on the Codex Theodosianus, t. iii, 1738, p. 513 b
(Kochy’s, in Civilistische Erorterungen, i, Leipzig, 1797, is not accessible to
me.) A good short account in Schwach, pp. 118 ff.; see also M. Braun,
Der Schatzerwerb (Greifswald Diss., 1898), pp. 18-27.
2 By Gothofredus, p. 514, col. a.
3 Tacitus, Annal. xvi. 1-3. Cp. Suetonius, Nero, 31.
4 Apparently, in part at least, a treasure buried for the second time I
See Virg. Aen. i. 358-9.
5 partam is better than the emendation paratam.
6 a vatibus oratoribusque (Brotier) is a sound emendation of the MS.
auaratoribus oratoribusque.
7 Obvias opes deferre deos.