William W. Batstone

Georgics 1.181: Inludunt and the Scope of Vergilian Pessimism

recorded as an event of the past in the year 64, and the clear and natural implication of this statement is that Curius was still an ex-senator in 64. If my arguments are accepted, what has been regarded as a list of senators in 63 contains five non-senators of 64: Autronius, Vargunteius, Lentulus Sura, Cethegus, and Curius. The tally: five non-senators, two senators, four doubtful cases. A proper understanding of Sallusts list unfortunately means losses in the number of known senators, but these losses have been compensated: we have learned enough to deny a second quaestorship to Curius, and we have learned enough to suggest a date at which Cethegus might have been quaestor. If a quaestorship for Cethegus in 63 is not accepted, we must move him from the non-senators to the doubtful cases: our answer to this question determines whether he is the fifth non-senator or the fifth doubtful case in the list.