ABSTRACT
Lucullus’ return to Rome in 80 can be said to mark his real entry into political life. Strictly speaking, of course, his public career had begun with his quaestorship, the first office held by a man intent on pursuing the cursus honorum, but it is fair to say that in this position he was given little chance to display whatever political talents he might possess. When not about the business of soldiering or administering, his role was simply that of a loyal supporter of Sulla’s policies. So, it is only now, with his aedileship (79), that we can begin to speak of him as a political figure.
