This inscription (now lost) appeared on the family tomb of the Clodii, and commemorated the career of Aulus Clodius Flaccus, whose name also appears on the measuring table in the Forum (H64). It places especial emphasis on the games that he gave at the festival in honour of Apollo, each time he held the duumvirate. He was duumvir for the third time in 2/1 bc, with Holconius Rufus as his colleague. Such is the level of detail in describing exactly what performances were put on, that several words in the inscription, for different types of bull-fighters and boxers, are not found elsewhere. Pylades was a famous actor at Rome in the Augustan era, and this may explain why his name is included here. The games described include a whole variety of performers and took place not just in the Amphitheatre, but also in the Forum. This may be partly because of the proximity of the Temple of Apollo to the Forum, but may also reflect the continuation of practices predating the construction of the Amphitheatre. Vitruvius (On Architecture 5.1.1—2) notes that it was usual for gladiatorial fights to be displayed in the fora of Italian towns.
D8 CIL X 1074d = ILS 5053.4, early first century AD
Aulus Clodius Flaccus, son of Aulus, of the Menenian voting tribe, duumvir with judicial power three times, quinquennial, military tribune by popular demand.
In his first duumvirate, at the games of Apollo in the Forum, (he presented) a procession, bulls, bull-fighters, and their fleet-footed helpers, 3 pairs of stage-fighters, boxers fighting in bands, and Greek-style pugilists; also (he presented) games with every musical entertainment, pantomime, and Pylades; and he gave 10,000 sesterces to the public coffers.
In return for his second duumvirate, which was also his quinquennial duumvirate, at the games of Apollo (he presented) in the Forum a procession, bulls, bull-fighters, and their fleet-footed helpers, and boxers fighting in bands; on the next day in the Amphitheatre (he presented) by himself 30 pairs of athletes and 5 pairs of gladiators, and with his colleague (he presented) 35 pairs of gladiators and a hunt with bulls, bull-fighters, boars, bears and the other hunt-variations.
In his third duumvirate (he presented) with his colleague games by a foremost troupe, with extra musical entertainment.
World History
