ProQuest Dissertations - Historia Antigua

advancement.The exposure of such a post could garner public favor or, at the veryleast, bring the recipient before the public eye and make him important contacts to uselater in his career. It is probable that these young men were placed on the commissions asa favor to their prominent fathers, relatives, or patrons, e.g. Q. Fulvius Nobilior whosefather, Marcus, had just given games in 186, two years before Potentia and Pisaurumwere founded and perhaps just as the commissioners were elected. 147Finally, being a commissioner to establish a colony sometimes yieldedcommercial or economic benefits. For the state, of course, these benefits includedreopening confiscated land to new farms and grateful farmers through both colonizationand viritane distributions; especially in North Italy, the fertile plains may have been seenas an alternate grain source, the exploiting of which might have been one of the elder1451Flaminus' goals in pushing through his agrarian law in 232.For the commissioners,there was also the possibility of economic recompense for their time. When FuriusPurpureo (cos 196), Q. Minucius (probably cos 197), and L. Manlius Acidinus (pr 188)were sent to check on the migration of Gauls (183) into the area where Aquileia would befounded, they came back cum donis, which indicates the mission was both a success andlucrative. 1T. Sempronius Gracchus, who had served on the commission to foundSaturnia (183), threw games so lavish when he was curule aedile (182) that the senatepassed a senatus consultum that year and again in 178 to restrict spending on games so146 On the priesthoods as a tool for political advancement see Hahm (1963), p. 82.147 Livy 39.22.1-5. They were particularly spectacular games, as well, with the first Greek actors, athleticcontests, and lion and panther hunt. Cf. Feig Vishnia (1996), p. 171.148 On the fertility of the Po Valley, see Feig Vishnia (1996), p. 14. On the economic purposes of settlingnew farmers, see Salmon (1970), p. 96 and Feig Vishnia (1996), p. 143.149 Livy 39.54.13-55.4. Scullard(1951),p. 167.90