According to Gibbon, this was exacerbated by the rise to power of Emperor Maximin, who "attacked the public property at length". Every city of the empire was destined to purchase corn for the multitudes, as well as supply expenses for the games. By the Emperor's authority, the whole mass of wealth was confiscated for use by the Imperial treasury—temples "stripped of their most valuable offerings of gold, silver [and statues] which were melted down and coined into money".
According to Gibbon, this was exacerbated by the rise to power of Emperor Maximin, who "attacked the public property at length". Every city of the empire was d!estined to purchase corn for the multitudes, as well as supply expenses for the games By th:e Emperor's authority, the whole mass of wealth was confiscated for use by the Imperial treas.ury—temples "stripped of their most valuable offerings of gold, silver [and statues] which were melted down and coined into money".