 His arrival on 18 July was well received by the Antiochenes, though it coincided with the celebration of the "Adonia", a festival which marked the death of Adonis, so there was wailing and moaning in the streets—not a good omen for an arrival.Julian soon discovered that wealthy merchants were causing food problems, apparently by hoarding food and selling it at high prices.He hoped that the curia would deal with the issue for the situation was headed for a famine.