Titus Flamininus

This appears to have furnished his triumph with its most glorious feature. For these men shaved their heads and wore felt caps, as it is customary for slaves to do when they are set free, and in this habit followed the triumphal car of Titus.

But a more beautiful show was made by the spoils of war which were displayed in the procession—Greek helmets and Macedonian bucklers and pikes. Besides, the amount of money exhibited was large. Tuditanus records that there were carried in the procession three thousand seven hundred and thirteen pounds of gold bullion, forty-three thousand two hundred and seventy pounds of silver,

and fourteen thousand five hundred and fourteen gold coins bearing Philip’s effigy.[*](These Philips were nearly equivalent to sovereigns. Cf. Livy’s description of the triumph (xxxiv. 52).) And apart from this money Philip owed his fine of a thousand talents.[*](Cf. chapter ix. 5.) This fine, however, the Romans were afterwards persuaded to remit to Philip, and this was chiefly due to the efforts of Titus; they also made Philip their ally, and sent back his son whom they held as hostage.

Presently, however, Antiochus crossed into Greece[*](In the autumn of 192 B.C.) with many ships and a large army, and began to stir the cities into faction and revolt. The Aetolians made common cause with him, a people which had long been most inimically disposed towards the Romans, and they suggested to him, as a pretext that would account for the war, that he should offer the Greeks their freedom. The Greeks did not want to be set free, for they were free already;