[Sidenote:  A.D. 60 (a.u. 813)] [Sidenote:—­21—­] This, then, he did to celebrate the shaving of his chin.  In behalf of his preservation and the continuance of his authority,—­thus he gave notice,—­he instituted quinquennial games, naming them Neronia.  In honor of the event he also constructed the gymnasium at the dedication of which he made a free distribution of olive oil to the senators and knights.  The crown for singing to the zither, moreover, he took without a contest, for all others were debarred on the assumption that they were unworthy of victory. [And immediately in their garb he was enrolled on the very lists of the gymnasium.] Thenceforward all other crowns for zither playing at all the contests were sent to him as the only person competent to win victories of that sort.

DIO’S ROMAN HISTORY 62

About the disaster to the Romans in Britain, brought upon them by Buduica (chapters 1-7).

Paulinus, returning from subduing the island of Mona, conquers in battle (chapters 8-12).

Octavia Augusta and Burrus, likewise Plautus and Pallas, are put to death by Nero (chapters 13, 14).

Most swinish reveling at the games of Tigillinus (chapter 15).

How Nero set the city on fire (chapters 16-18).

The uprightness of Corbulo:  proceedings against Vologaesus and Tiridates (chapters 19, 20).

Misfortune attends the endeavors of Paetus:  Vologaesus forms a compact with Corbulo (chapters 21-23).

Seneca, Soranus, Thrasea, Sabina are put to death:  Musonius and Cornutus are banished (chapters 24-29).

DURATION OF TIME.

Nero Aug. (IV), Cornelius Cossus Cossi F. Lentulus. (A.D. 60 = a.u. 813 = Seventh of Nero, from Oct. 13th).

Caesonius Paetus, P. Petronius Turpilianus. (A.D. 61 = a.u. 814 = Eighth of Nero).

P. Marius Celsus, L. Asinius Gallus. (A.D. 62 = a.u. 815 = Ninth of Nero).

C. Memmius Regulus, L. Verginius Rufus. (A.D. 63 = a.u. 816 = Tenth of Nero).

C. Lecanius Bassus, M. Licinius Crassus Frugi. (A.D. 64 = a.u. 817 = Eleventh of Nero).

A. Licinius Nerva Silanus, M. Vestinus Atticus. (A.D. 65 = a.u. 818 = Twelfth of Nero).

[Sidenote:  A.D. 61 (a.u. 814)] [Sidenote:—­1—­] While this sport was going on at Rome, a terrible disaster had taken place in Britain.  Two cities had been sacked, eight myriads of Romans and of their allies had perished, and the island had been lost.  Moreover, all this ruin was brought upon them by a woman, a fact which in itself caused them the greatest shame.  Heaven evidently gave them in advance an indication of the catastrophe.  At night there was heard to issue from the senate-house foreign jargon mingled with laughter and from the theatre outcries with wailing:  yet no mortal man had uttered the speeches or the groans.  Houses under water came to view in the river Thames, [Footnote:  Compare Tacitus, Annals, XIV, 32 ("visamque speciem in aestuario Tamesae subversae Coloniae").] and the ocean between the island and Gaul sometimes grew bloody at flood-tide.