A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

13. L.CaeciliusMetellusDalmaticus, L. F. Q. N., son of No. 6, and frequently confounded, as has been already remarked, with Diadematus. [No. 8.] He is spoken of by Cicero as the maternal grandfather of Scaurus, whom Cicero defended, since his daughter Caecilia married the father of Scaurus. Metellus was consul in B. C. 119, with L. Aurelius Cotta, and through desire of a triumph declared war against the Dalmatians, who had been guilty of no offence against Rome. The Dalmatians offered no opposition to him, and after passing the winter quietly in their town of Salonae, he returned to Rome and obtained the undeserved honour of a triumph, and the surname Dalmaticus or Delmaticus. With the booty obtained in this war he repaired the temple of Castor and Pollux. In B. C. 115 he was censor with Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus, and, in conjunction with his colleagues, expelled thirty-two members from the senate, among whom was C. Licinius Geta, who was afterwards censor himself. Metellus was also pontifex maximus; and the decision which he came to in the case of the Vestals, who were brought before him for trial in B. C. 114, was generally condemned. [See above, p. 782a.] He was alive in B. C. 100, when he is mentioned as one of the senators of high rank, who took up arms against Saturninus. (Appian. Illyr. 11; Liv. Epit. 62; Cic. pro Scaur. 2; Plut. Pomp. 2; Cic. Ver. 1.55, 59, pro Cluent. 42; Ascon. in Cic Mil. p. 46, ed, Orelli; Cic. pro C. Rabir. 7.)