BC, Scaurus was succeeded in Syria by Lucius Marcius Philippus. Scarus' engagements in Syria and Judaea may be mentioned in Dead Sea Scroll 4Q333 (fragmentary) which states: He was said by Pliny the Elder to have been the first Roman collector, or major collector, of engraved gems. Curule aedile and praetor Scaurus returned to Rome and – eligible due to his patrician status – was elected curule aedile a few years later, in 58 BC, with Publius Plautius Hypsaeus as his colleague. Together, they minted denarii showing the scene of the surrender of the Nabataean king Aretas III to Scaurus. The massive production of these coins was nevertheless not linked to the extravagant games – funded by his wealth acquired in Syria – he gave that year as aedile. During the year, he restored an ornament placed by his father on the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus that had been damaged by fire in 83 BC; he also erected the theatrum Scauri, a magnificent wooden theatre with three levels and seats for eighty thousand spectators. By 57 BC, he had been elevated to the college of pontiffs. He served as praetor in 56 BC, during which he presided over the quaestio de vi and the trial of Publius Sestius. He received Sardinia as his province for 55 BC, probably pro consule. Consular attempt and exile After returning from Sardinia, he received the support of Julius Caesar and Pompey in the canvass for the consulship of 53 BC, but was immediately accused of extortion in his province on his return on 6 July 54 BC. Scaurus was defended by a glittering array of senior statesmen – Cicero, Quintus Hortensius, Marcus Calidius, and Marcus Claudius Marcellus gave speeches in his defence; nine former consuls, including Pompey, and a sitting quaestor testified to his character – in a trial before Cato the Younger. and was overwhelmingly acquitted on 2 September 54 BC in spite of his probable guilt. The candidates supported by the Triumvirs (Julius Caesar, Pompey and Crassus), Scaurus included, were defeated in the canvass for the consulship of 53 BC. After the elections, he – severally with the other candidates – was hauled before the courts for ambitus (electoral bribery) some time before 11 October 54 BC, but proceedings were incomplete. Two years later, some time in 52 BC, Scaurus was again prosecuted de ambitu, possibly in a continuation of the