Marcellus

Thus advancing and entering the temple of Jupiter Feretrius, he set up and consecrated his offering, being the third and last to do so, down to our time. The first was Romulus, who despoiled Acron the Caeninensian[*](Cf. the Romulus, xvi. 4-7. ); the second was Cornelius Cossus, who despoiled Tolumnius the Tuscan; and after them Marcellus, who despoiled Britomartus, king of the Gauls; but after Marcellus, no man.

The god to whom the spoils were dedicated was called Jupiter Feretrius, as some say, because the trophy was carried on a pheretron, or car; this is a Greek word, and many such were still mingled at that time with the Latin[*](Cf. the Romulus, xv. 3; Numa, vii. 5.); according to others, the epithet is given to Jupiter as wielder of the thunder-bolt, the Latin ferire meaning to smite. But others say the name is derived from the blow one gives an enemy, since even now in battles, when they are pursuing their enemies, they exhort one another with the word feri, which means smite! Spoils in general they call spolia, and these in particular, opima.

And yet they say that Numa Pompilius, in his commentaries, makes mention of three kinds of opima, prescribing that when the first kind are taken, they shall be consecrated to Jupiter Feretrius, the second to Mars, and the third to Quirinus; also that the reward for the first shall be three hundred asses,[*](The Roman as corresponded nearly to the English penny.) for the second two hundred, and for the third one hundred. However, the general and prevailing account is that only those spoils are opima which are taken first, in a pitched battle, where general slays general. So much, then, on this subject.

The Romans were so overjoyed at this victory and the ending of the war that they sent to the Pythian Apollo at Delphi a golden bowl[*](The indication of its source or value which follows in the Greek, is uncertain.) . . . as a thank-offering, gave a splendid share of the spoils to their allied cities, and sent many to Hiero, the king of Syracuse, who was their friend and ally.