A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

SCAEVOLA. SCAEVOLA. 733
T)boica contains Scaevola's definition of Cenlilis. Q. Mucius Scaevola, the pontifex maximus (VaAccording to Pomponius he wrote ten books ler. Max. viii. 8; Cic. de Orat. 1. 7); whence
(libelli) on some legal subject. There is no ex- it appears that the Q. Mucius who is one of the
cerpt from the writings of Scaevola in the Digest, speakers in the treatise de Oratore, is not the
but he is cited several times by the jurists whose pontifex and the colleague of Crassus, but the
works were used for that compilation (Dig. 24. tit. Augur, the father-in-law of Crassus. He is also
3. s. 66; 50. tit. 7. s. 17; and 49. tit. 15. s. 4.) one of the speakers in the Laelius sive de Anmicitias
It is conjectured that the Scaevola mentioned in (c. 1), and in the de Republica (i. 12).
the Digest (47. tit. 4. s. 1. ~ 15) is this Publius, 7. Q. MUCIUS SCAEVOLA, was the son of Pub.
because Cicero (ad Fam. vii. 22) cites his name lius, consul, B. c. 133, and pontifex maximus (Cic.
in connection with the same question that is put Off. i. 32, iii. 15), and an example whom Cicero
in the Digest; best this is only conjecture. quotes, of a son who aimed at excellence in that
Most of the ancient authorities that relate to which had given his father distinction. He was
Scaevola are cited by Zimmern, Geschichte des tribunus plebis in B. c. 106, the year in which
Rum. Privatrechts, vol. i. p. 277. As to P. Lici- Cicero was born, aedilis curulis in B.c. 104, and
nius Crassus Mucianus, the brother of P. Mucius consul in B. c. 95, with L. Licinius Crassus, the
Scaevola, see MUCIANUS. orator, as his colleague. In their consulate was
6. Q. MUCIUS SCAEVOIA, called the AUGvR, enacted the Lex Mucia Licinia de Civitate (Cic.
was the son of Q. Mucius SCAEVOLA, consul B. C. Off. iii. 11), a measure which appears to have con174. He married the daughter of C. Laelius, the tributed to bring on the Marsic or Social War.
friend of Scipio Africanus the younger (Cic. Lael. After his consulship Scaevola was the governor
8, Brut. c. 26). He was tribunus plebis B. C. 128, (proconsul) of the province Asia, in which capacity
plebeian aedile B. C. 125, and as praetor was gover- he gained the esteem of the people who were
nor of the province of Asia in B. C. 121, the year in under his government; and, to show their gratitude,
which C. Gracchus lost his life. HIe was prosecuted the Greeks of Asia instituted a festival day (dlies
after his return from his province for the offence of Mucia) to commemorate the virtues of their goverRepetunlldae, in B.C. 120, by T. Albucius, probably nor (comp. Valer. Max. viii. 15). Subsequently
on mere personal grounds; but he was acquitted he was made pontifex maximus, by which title he
(Cic. de Fin. i. 3, Brutus, 26, 35, de Or. i. 17, is often distinguished from Quintus Mucius the
ii. 70). Scaevola was consul B. c. 117, with L. Augur. He lost his life in the consulship of C.
Caecilius Metellus. It appears from the Laelius Marius the younger and Cn. Papirius Carbo (B.c.
of Cicero (c. 1), that he lived at least to the tri- 82), having been proscribed by the Marian party,
bunate of P. Sulpicius Rufus, B. c. 88. Cicero, from which we may conclude that he was of the
who was born B. C. 106, informs us, that after he faction of Sulla, or considered to be, though so uphad put on the toga virilis, his father took him to right a man could not be the blind partisan of any
Scaevola, who was then all old man, anld that he faction. (Vell. Pat. ii. 26.) The pontifex in vain
kept as close to him as he could, in order to profit fled for refuge to the Vestal altars and the everby his remarks (Lael. c. 1). It does not appear burning fires; he was killed in the presence of the
how long the Augur survived B. c. 83, the year in goddess, and her statue was drenched with his
which the quarrel of Marius and Sulla began. blood (Florus, iii. 21; Cic. de Or. iii. 3; Vell.
After his death Cicero became a hearer of Q. Pat. ii. 26; Lucan, ii. 126). His body was
Mucius Scaevola, the pontifex. The Augur was thrown into the Tiber (Appian, Bell. Civ. i. 88).
distinguished for his knowledge of the law, and The story in Valerius Maximus (ix. 11) of all
his activity was continued to the latest period of attempt by C. Fimbria to murder Scaevola at the
his life. Cicero (]'hilipp. viii. 10) says, that funeral of C. Marius (B. c. 86), does not refer to
during the Marsic war (B. c. 90), though he was a the death of Scaevola in B. c. 82, as some commenvery old man, and in bad health, he was ready to tators have supposed. The facts of this attempt
give his opinion to those who wished to hear it as to assassinate Scaevola are recorded by Cicero
soon it was light, and during that time no one ever (pro S. Rosc. Amer. 12). The assassin was C.
saw him in bed, and he was the first man to come Flavius Fimbria, who afterwards met with the fate
to the curia. Valerius Maximus (iii. 8) records, that he deserved in Asia. (Plut. Sulla, c. 25.)
that when L. Cornelius Sulla, after driving Marius The virtues of Scaevola are recorded by Cicero,
out of the city (B. C. 88), proposed that the senate who, after the death of the Augur, became an
should declare him an enemy, Scaevola affirmed attendant (auditor) of the pontifex. His political
that he would never consent to declare him an opinions probably attached him to the party of the
enemy who had saved Rome. Probably all the fol- nobiles, but he was a man of moderation, and
lowing passages in Valerius Maximus (iv. 1. ~ 11, averse to all violence. The purity of his moral
iv. 5. ~ 4, viii. 12. ~ 1) may refer to this Scaevola, character, his exalted notions of equity and fair
but Valerius has not always distinguished the two dealing (Cic. Off: iii. 15, gives a rare instance), his
pontifices and the Augur. The Augur showed his abilities as an administrator, an orator, and a
modesty, his good sense, and his confidence in his jurist place him among the first of the illustrious
own knowledge, by not hesitating to refer his men of all ages and countries. He was, says
clients to others who knew certain branches of law Cicero (de Or. i. 39), the mnost eloquent of jurists,
better than himself (Val. Max. viii. 12. ~ 1). That and the most learned jurist among orators. Acthis passage of Valerius refers to the Augur, is cording to Cicero's expression (Brutus, 89), he did
proved by the passage of Cicero (Pro Balbo. c. not offer himself as an instructor to any one, yet
20), which may have been the authority of Vale- by allowing persons to be present when he gave
rius. No writings of the Augur are recorded, nor is his Responsa, he did in fact instruct those who
he mentioned by Pomponius. (Dig. 1. tit. 2. s. 2.) made it their business to attend him (consulentiMucia, the Augur's daughter, married L. Licinius bus respondendo studiosos audiendi docebat).
Crassus, the orator, who was consul B. C. 95, with Cicero mentions an important case (causa curiana)