[26]

Since a triumph was granted only to an imperator, after the establishment of the principate by Augustus all triumphs were celebrated in the name of the emperor himself, the victorious general receiving only the insignia triumphalia.  The first general to refuse a triumph was Agrippa, after his campaign in Spain, about 550 years before Belisarius’ triumph in Constantinople.

[27]

The barriers (carceres), or starting-point for the racers, were at the open end of the hippodrome, the imperial box at the middle of the course at the right as one entered.

[28]

Cf.  Book III. v. 3; that was in A.D. 455.  The spoliation of Jerusalem by
Titus had taken place in A.D. 70.

[29]

Ecclesiastes, i. 2.

[30]

Not an actual “triumph,” but a triumphal celebration of his inauguration as consul.

[31]

The reference is to the old custom of distributing to the populace largesses (congiaria) of money or valuables on the occasion of events of interest to the imperial house, such as the emperor’s assumption of the consular office, birthdays, etc.  The first largess of this kind was made by Julius Caesar.

[32]

Cf.  Book IV. ii. 1.

[33]

The Canaanites of the Old Testament.

[34]

i.e., Clypea, or Aspis, now Kalibia, on the Carthaginian coast.

[35]

i.e., from Tangier, opposite Cadiz, to Algiers.  On Caesarea see IV. v. 5 and note.

[36]

“On the borders of Mauretania” according to Procopius, De aedificiis, vi. 6. 18.

[37]

Chap. x. 6.

[38]

Book III. viii. 25, 26.

[39]

The side toward the mountains; cf. sec. 20.

[40]

In the late Empire the excubitores, 300 in number, constituted the select guard of the palace.  Their commander, comes excubitorum, held high rank at court; cf.  VIII. xxi. 1, where we are told that Belisarius held this position, and Arcana 6. 10, where Justin, afterwards emperor, is mentioned.

[41]

Cf. chap. viii. 14.  Procopius has explained in III. xi. 6 that Solomon was a eunuch.

[42]

See III. viii. 5.

[43]

A comes foedtratorum, mentioned in III. xi. 6.

[44]

Book III. viii. 5.

[45]

i.e. Clypea.  Not the place mentioned in IV. x. 24.

[46]

The region in the interior of Sardinia called Barbargia or Barbagia still preserves this name.  But Procopius’ explanation of the origin of the barbarian settlers there has not been generally accepted.

[47]

Book III. xviii. 7 ff.

[48]

IV. iv. 30 and note.

[49]

Baptism was administered only during the fifty days between Easter and
Pentecost.  Justinian had forbidden the baptism of Arians.