The Naumachia on Lake Fucinus

Translation

Around the same time, with the mountain between Lake Fucinus and the river Liris having been pierced through, so that the magnificence of the work might be viewed by more people, a naval battle was staged on the lake itself, just as Augustus had once produced one on a pool constructed across the Tiber, but with light vessels and a smaller force. Claudius armed triremes and quadriremes and nineteen thousand men, with the perimeter enclosed by rafts, so that there might be no stray escapes, yet having embraced enough space for the force of the rowing, the skills of the helmsmen, the charges of ships, and things customary in battle. On the rafts stood companies and squadrons of the praetorian cohorts, with ramparts placed in front from which catapults and ballistae might be aimed. Marines occupied the rest of the lake with decked ships. The banks and hills and heights of the mountains were filled in the manner of a theatre by an innumerable crowd, from the nearest towns and others from the city itself, from a desire to see or from duty to the emperor. He himself presided in a splendid military cloak, and Agrippina, not far off, in a golden mantle. Although the fight was among criminals, they fought with the spirit of brave men, and after many wounds they were spared from slaughter.