44. Distributio solemnium sportularum. The 'sportulae', or
sportellae', were small baskets supposed to contain a
quantity of hot provisions of the value of 100 quadrantes,
or twelvepence halfpenny which were ranged in order in the
hall, and ostentatiously distributed to the hungry or
servile crowd who waited at the door. This indelicate custom
is very frequently mentioned in the epigrams of Martial and
the satires of Juvenal. See likewise Suetonius, in Claud. c.
21; in Neron. c. 16; in Domitian. c. 4, 7. These baskets of
provisions were afterwards converted into large pieces of
gold and silver coin, or plate, which were mutually given
and accepted even by the persons of the highest rank (see
Symmach. Epist. iv. 55, ix. 124, and Miscell. p. 256 [ed.
Paris, 1604]), on solemn occasions, of consulships,
marriages, etc.