A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

1. T.QuintiusScapula, a zealous partisan of the Pompeians. passed over into Spain with Cn. Pompeins the elder, son of the triumvir, and took the most active part in organising the revolt against Caesar in that province. The soldiers elected him and Q. Aponius as their leaders; but on the arrival of Sex. Pompeius, who fled to Spain after the defeat of his party at the battle of Thapsus in Africa, Scapula surrendered the command to him. After the defeat of the Pompeians at Munda, in B. C. 45, Scapula, seeing that all was lost, fled to Corduba, and there burnt himself to death on a pyre which he had erected for the purpose, after partaking of a splendid banquet. (Appian, App. BC 2.87, 105; Dion (Cass. 43.29, 30; Cic. Fam. 9.13; Auctor, B. Hisp. 33.)